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| no smoking |
A number of states prohibit smoking in public places. In the city of Los Angeles, California,
even outdoor parks are designated as no smoking zones.
In Rhode Island (RI)
similar smoking ban took place under “Smoke-Free Public Places and Workplaces
Act” in 2005. The good news is RI is seeing health and financial benefit from
such smoking ban.
A new study from the Rhode Island Department of Health
(HEALTH) has announced that Rhode
Island hospitalization rates for heart attack, and
associated costs have been declining since the smoking ban took place in 2005.
The study focused on adult admissions to Rhode
Island's 11 acute care general hospitals where acute
myocardial infarction (AMI), commonly known as heart attack, asthma, and
appendicitis were listed as the principal diagnosis.
The findings, Published in the journal of Medicine and
Health Rhode Island, show a 28.4 percent drop in the
rate of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) admissions and a 14.6 percent
reduction in total associated cost, representing a potential savings of over
six million dollars. On the other hand, the hospitalization rate and costs
associated with appendicitis remained the same which was expected because this
condition is not known to be affected by secondhand smoke.
According to RI Director of Health, Michael Fine:
-------"The results contribute to the growing number of studies showing the significant health benefits and cost savings gained by having a statewide ban on indoor smoking in place."
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