Healthy Communities of Clinton County Coalition was looking to make a statement at the Frankfort Rotary Club meeting Thursday at Arborwood.
“We want to see a smoke free policy for the City of Frankfort, especially for the children because they are exposed to second hand smoke,” said Kathy Martin of Healthy Communities. “Nicotine is a true addiction. It stays in your brain for 14 to 21 days after quitting. We’d like to see the smoking age raised to 21 and additional dollar and 50 cent tax added to cigarettes. We want to hear back from the community.”
Martin revealed another starting statistic regarding nicotine.
“Almost 80 percent of those addicted to opioids are addicted to nicotine,” said Martin.
Joining Martin in this effort was Kacie McGill, who is the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Coordinator for Healthy Communities, and Clinton County Health Department Director Rodney Wann.
“I think we’re heading in the right direction,” said Wann. “The more chance we have to limit areas where someone can light up and smoke, the better it is for everyone.”
Healthy Communities handed out to those in attendance a three-page informational flier on tobacco marketing in Clinton County. Some of the more interesting facts in the flier were:
- 93 percent of retailers offered a price promotion on any type of tobacco product compared to just 62 percent statewide.
- in Indiana, the tobacco industry spends about $284.5 million on tobacco marketing each year — nearly $44 for every Hoosier.
- about 95 percent of the tobacco industry’s marketing budget is spent on point-of-sale marketing.
- 93 percent of retailers sold any flavored tobacco product, such as candy or fruit flavored products that may appeal to youth.
- 8 percent of tobacco retailers in Clinton County are within 1,000 feet of a school.
- the percent of pregnant women who smoke in Indiana is 13.5 percent. In Clinton County, it is 19.1 percent.
- there were 55 deaths attributed to smoking in Clinton County and 1,665 smoking related illnesses.
- the cost of state and federal tax burden from smoking-caused government expenditures is $903 per Indiana household.
McGill was asked what the biggest problem facing those who have a tobacco addiction.
“Advertising, not only in the price discounts, but also in the education,” said McGill. “All these new technologies are coming out and our youths don’t know about it.”
McGill was asked what steps she would recommend to those who are considering smoking.
“I would research the effects on how it would effect you, your family, your children, your pets and your home,” she said.
Wann was asked if his department is seeing the decrease in smoking they expected.
“I think we are seeing the decreases in regular tobacco use that we want to see,” said Wann. “We’re still seeing e-cigarettes starting to skew the data a little bit at the present time with new youths starting who wouldn’t use regular tobacco. If we can get more clarity on the legislation for e-cigarettes maybe we will see overall numbers start to drop.”
Wann was also asked what he viewed as the biggest problem confronting those individuals who smoke.
“Targeting of the audience and certainly the new audiences and new generations of smokers,” he said. “Without those, the tobacco companies, I don’t think, would survive. So they have no choice. And, we as a population need to realize that’s the case and take measures to stop it.”