TO THE EDITOR:
I am writing in regards to the article “NC smoking ban tied to air quality, rates of quitting,” published on Feb. 14. I could not agree more with the state of North Carolina’s decision to ban smoking in restaurants and bars. Since the law has passed, North Carolina has seen many benefits. Recent data is demonstrating that action against smoking is discouraging smokers and diminishing secondhand smoke exposure.
As a result of the ban, more smokers are making the decision to quit. QuitlineNC, a free tipline for quitters, saw a 35 percent increase in the number of participants.
The ban has also provided non-smokers relief from secondhand smoke exposure. In 2008, 7.8 percent of adults in North Carolina reported being exposed to secondhand smoke at work every day during the past week. During the first ten months of 2010, only 4.3 percent of adults reported experiencing daily exposure. This ban was an important step in protecting North Carolina’s residents from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.
Kate Foy
Freshman
Exercise and Sports Science
