What are the benefits of tobacco-free parks?
- Tobacco-free policies are concerned with the health of everyone.
- Tobacco-free parks create healthy and safe environments for residents and visitors, especially children.
- Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in our community. Each year over 148 people in Umatilla County die from tobacco-related illnesses and 2,893 people live with a serious illness caused by tobacco products. 1
- According to the United States Surgeon General, there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke.
- Tobacco-free supports individuals who are trying to quit tobacco use or have already quit. 70% of smokers want to quit and it is helpful to have tobacco-free environments to assist in their efforts.2
- Tobacco-free reduces exposure of children and youth to smoking and tobacco use, protecting their health and discouraging them from starting tobacco use and potentially developing a nicotine addiction that is harder to quit the earlier it is started. 90% of tobacco users start or before the age of 18.3
- Tobacco-free policies eliminate the confusion of staff, participants, and visitors about what is and is not allowed to be used.
- Look for the posted “Tobacco-Free” signs in the park. These signs provide people with the ability to rely on community and self-enforcement. Many tobacco users look for “no tobacco” signs. Signs have been ordered for all parks and will be installed as soon as they arrive.
- This policy protects parks and natural areas from potential risk of fires and litter caused from cigarettes butts.
- Tobacco-free policies help reduce all tobacco waste (butts, wrappers, spit residue, spit containers etc.) on the ground and area.
- Tobacco-free policies protect parks and natural areas from environmental degradation caused by littering of cigarette butts and other tobacco-related waste. Most cigarette butts are made from acetate, a plastic that can take up to approximately 10 years to biodegrade.4
- Cigarettes, once consumed in public spaces, are often discarded on the ground requiring additional maintenance expenses, diminishing the beauty of our community’s facilities, and posing a risk to toddlers and wildlife due to ingestion. Less litter keeps city parks safe, clean, and appealing.
- Contributes to cost savings: tobacco-related disease is still the leading cause of preventable death in Oregon and costs Umatilla County $29.5 million each year in medical care and $23.7 million in lost productivity.1
