Challenges resulting from funding increases - 7/5/06

Q: If your state is smoke-free, how have you addressed VFW’s concerns regarding becoming smoke-free? Also, where have other states obtained information or statistics on the number of smokers in the military?

A:

Alabama - I'm sorry to say AL is not smoke free and we do not separate out the military from our regular BRFSS that determines our adult prevalence rate.

California - In California, AB 13 applies to Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). Although we are not working directly with the VFW, we have a project that is working towards creating relationships to increase awareness of our California Smokers' Helpline (1-800-No-Butts) to active military personnel at military installations, and will be coordinating with military support networks to promote smoke-free indoor and outdoor housing areas.
The prevalence data that we have for active military in California was obtained through a "California Active Duty Tobacco Use Survey." The report can be downloaded from http://www.tcspartners.org/specstudsummit.html

Illinois - Our state is not smoke free, but the pre-emption clause of our Clean Indoor Air Act was recently amended allowing local jurisdictions to determine their own smoking ordinances. Click here to view the amendment.

Maine – Click here to view our guide for veterans’ service organizations and social clubs.

New Jersey - After several considerations of exemptions for VFW and other fraternal organizations, it was decided that the best public health policy was not to give special exemptions. The intent was to protect the health of members and any people who have to perform work at the facility even it was done on a volunteer basis.

Ohio – I believe in most states private organizations are exempt from the statute. I know if the referendum in Ohio passes this fall they will be exempt.

Oklahoma - We have just completed some preliminary work in this area through our CDC-Disparity Supplemental Grant and our Focus Group Contractor. For the project, we will have some intercept interview data soon for the Current Military/Veterans group. We have a statewide Military/Veteran contact that we will work through during the next few months to actually get focus group and some quantitative data, hopefully.