Santa Rosa businesses go smoke-free

To date, at least 14 businesses in Santa Rosa County have implemented tobacco-free policies. [Pixabay.com]

MILTON — Tobacco-free business, a growing trend throughout the state and country, is making its way to Santa Rosa County. 

To date, at least 14 businesses in Santa Rosa County have implemented tobacco-free policies, including:   

  • AppRiver
  • CVS Stores
  • City of Milton
  • Santa Rosa County School District
  • Family Dollar Stores
  • Lowe’s Stores
  • Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office
  • Santa Rosa County Jail
  • Blackwater River Correctional Facility
  • University of West Florida
  • GEO Corrections and Detention
  • Santa Rosa County offices
  • Shane’s Rib Shack
  • Pruitt Health-Santa Rosa

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung disease, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Smokers, on average, die about 10 years earlier than non-smokers.

Smoking also increases the risk of complications during pregnancy, including pre-term delivery and low birth weight. Smoking during pregnancy results in more than 1,000 infant deaths annually.      

In addition, smoking costs Florida about $19.6 billion a year due to lost productivity, premature death and healthcare expenditures. 

Tobacco-free policies can save employers an average of $6,000 a year per employee. There are also numerous health benefits for businesses and staffers as tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, hundreds of which are toxic and at least 70 of which are known to cause cancer.

Exposure, even for short periods, can be dangerous and smokers are prone to being absent from work 1.5 times more often than nonsmokers.

Exposure to second-hand smoke causes problems as well. In addition to an increased risk of heart attack, adults exposed to second-hand smoke are at risk for lung cancer and stroke. Children may experience ear infections and respiratory problems, as well as sudden infant death syndrome.

For information on local tobacco-quitting programs, contact the Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County at 564-2253.

For more information on what smoking costs employers, visit Tobacco Free Florida at  http://tobaccofreeflorida.com/employercessation/

To learn how your business can go smoke-free, contact Vince Nguyen, tobacco cessation specialist with DOH-Santa Rosa, at 564-2253.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Santa Rosa businesses go smoke-free