Effective September 1st, Decision-makers Cite Public Health and Environmental Goals as Drivers of Effort
BATH, Maine, August 18, 2015 – Beginning September 1st, employees, visitors and vendors of Sagadahoc County will be able to breathe easier as tobacco use of any kind will no longer be permitted on county grounds. The policy, spearheaded and developed by the Sagadahoc County Board of Health, would prohibit the use of all tobacco products inside any county owned or leased buildings, within county vehicles, all outdoor county government owned and leased properties, including parking lots, as well as within personal vehicles parked on county property. For the purposes of the policy, smoking and tobacco use is defined as the smoking, vaping, or use of any tobacco products, including but not limited to: cigarettes, cigars, spit and smokeless tobacco, chew, snuff, snus, electronic cigarettes and other non-FDA approved nicotine delivery devices.
The new policy is meant to be an aggressive step to promote the health and well-being of those who both work for and visit the County. The use of tobacco products is the single, greatest cause of premature death, disease and disability in the United States and in Maine. The new policy exceeds the requirements of Maine State Law by prohibiting the use of any and all tobacco products at all times and in all locations that comprise the workplace. “The objective data that was presented to us was abundantly clear,” stated Charles E. Crosby, III, Chairman of the Sagadahoc County Board of Commissioners. “Whether it is promoting an individual’s physical health, preventing the effects of secondhand smoke for others, curbing the unknown dangers of vaping, minimizing both air pollutants and litter, or the added benefit of attempting to arrest our skyrocketing healthcare costs, the decision to go tobacco-free was an easy one for me.”
The comprehensive policy also includes tobacco cessation resources for county employees who choose to take advantage of those services via current health insurance offerings and one-on-one consultations with a Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist. Further, anyone looking to quit tobacco is urged to utilize the free and confidential Maine Tobacco HelpLine (1-800-207-1230). Visitors to the county campus in Bath will also notice new signage to remind them of the new county policy.
“As members of the public health community, it is incumbent upon us to find meaningful ways to protect and serve the people of Sagadahoc County – and this is one more important way to do so,” stated Joanne Joy, Chair of the Sagadahoc County Board of Health. “The County going tobacco-free not only has an immediate health impact for those who work and do business on county grounds, but also sets a clear example for the rest of the community.”