McHenry County residents have another reason to
celebrate the New Year. January 1, 2013 marks the fifth anniversary of
the Smoke-free Illinois Act which protects everyone regardless of where they
work or live from the health risks associated with secondhand smoke
exposure. Smoke-free laws improve public health and reduce the healthcare
costs to treat people with smoking-related diseases. Illinois enacted the
strongest clean indoor air law in the country.
The landmark legislation prohibits smoking in all
indoor public places and workplaces including bars and restaurants. More
than half of the country (30 states and counting) are smoke-free. Studies
show there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Some of the
benefits of Smoke-free Illinois include:
In 2008, 21.2% of Illinois adults smoked; that number
dropped to 16.9% in 2012.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health
(IDPH), since Smoke-free Illinois went into effect, tobacco-related
hospitalizations and healthcare costs have decreased substantially.
·Heart disease hospitalizations have also shown the
greatest decline. It’s estimated that more than 30,200 heart disease
hospitalizations in Illinois have been prevented, with an estimated savings of
$1.18 billion in hospital costs alone; the average cost for heart disease
admissions is nearly $39,000.
Smokers can get help by calling the Illinois Quit
Line at 1-866-QUIT-YES. The Quit Line is a service of IDPH and the
American Lung Association. Get the latest news from MCDH at www.mcdh.info, on Facebook and
Twitter www.twitter.com/mchenrycohealth.
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