News and Events
The Tobacco Free Partnership of Highlands County is Working to Expand Breathe Easy Zones
November 14, 2017
The Tobacco Free Partnership of Highlands County coordinates tobacco prevention efforts throughout Highlands County. The primary goal of the group is to create local tobacco-free policies.
Such policy change does not occur overnight. There is a huge educational component that is required to foster policy change. The Tobacco Free Partnership conducts a wide variety of community outreach and educational programs designed to explain the importance, and the need for new, stricter tobacco free policies.
The Partnership works on the following policy initiatives in Highlands County:
- The education of the local community on the impact of point-of-sale advertising on youth tobacco initiation.
- The creation of new policies reducing youth exposure and access to smokeless tobacco products.
- The passage of resolutions by local governmental agencies supporting changes in the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act allowing for local creation of tobacco-free parks and beaches.
- Creation of voluntary tobacco-free policies at privately-owned outdoor environments to reduce the impact of secondhand smoke, especially around youth.
- The creation of voluntary changes in tobacco policies in multi-unit housing complexes.
- An increase in the number of tobacco-free workplaces, including an increase in the number of employers offering tobacco cessation programs to their employees.
The partnership has had multiple successes in these areas and this year has decided expand its efforts with the creation of Breathe Easy Zones within organizations and extending to community events. A breathe easy zone is a simple way to create a healthy environment for the people around you. This small step can create such a large impact, can initiate change within your community and can facilitate the initial steps to a more comprehensive tobacco-free policy within businesses, parks, sports complexes, and mulit-unit housing facilities in Highlands County.
Are you tired of your child being exposed to secondhand smoke while attending family-friendly events? Are there certain areas in Highlands County that you think would benefit from a Breathe Easy Zone? Are you an organization looking into creating tobacco-free policies? Scared to take the plunge? Start with Breathe Easy Zones and work your way to a more comprehensive policy. Breathe easy zones are a great start to a healthier atmosphere and community.
If so, the Tobacco Free Partnership of Highlands County can help! Come to our meetings and/or join our email list. We are looking for community input and support, and you can help!
For more information, contact Amanda John, Community Health Advocate for QuitDoc Foundation, at ajohn@quitdoc.com.