Triangle Hospitals Ban Tobacco Use

Raleigh, N.C. — Major hospitals in the Triangle are implementing a tobacco-free policy from Wednesday.

The use of tobacco products will be banned on the campuses of Rex Healthcare, WakeMed, UNC Hospitals and Duke University Health System.

The ban will apply to all medical workers, patients and visitors, said DUHS officials.

The hospitals formed the tobacco-free policy in October 2006, said officials.

Several hospitals are offering programs to help their employees quit using tobacco products.

DUHS is also providing nicotine replacement therapy to the public through outpatient pharmacies and gift shops.

Tobacco use and second-hand smoke are the leading cause of cancer and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases in the U.S., said DUHS officials.

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Yet another neo-con below this post. Bet he still thinks Bush is doing a fine job. I love it. He says there is no proof that second hand smoke causes health problems and death. Amazing.

O'Reily is on, make sure you hang on his every word.

balog
July 4, 2007 9:02 p.m.

Here's a Comment to all of those in the Medical Field;

Since you blame EVERYTHING regarding health issues - on smoking, then if we all HAVE to quit, maybe MANY of you will lose your jobs.

THEN WHAT?

I have more concerns with terrorist coming into open borders, treating illegals for free particularly when they have fights and drunk driving incidents.

Why doesn't the GREAT GOVERNMENT Ban their treatment as well.

I SMELL LAWSUITS. I only HOPE.

If I wish to smoke, it is MY BUSINESS, not yours. I do not smoke around others, and I'll be danged if I have to go to REX, I'll FIND A WAY TO INHALE.

There is absolutely NO PROOF that second hand smoke causes death to others. THAT IS TOTAL BS. It's the government's way of taking control of its citizens because they think we are too stupid to make adult choices.

BAH HUMBUG.

NoToIllegals
July 4, 2007 10:59 a.m.

I am a nurse at one of these hospitals that is now smoke-free. When I started in nursing over 20 years ago it was awful how some nurses would smoke in the break room and in the report room. Yuck! Now, it is rare for there to be a nurse (or any other health worker----at least on my floor) to be a smoker. No doubt that cigarettes are killers---not only to those who smoke them but to those who inhale second hand smoke. Honestly, the way it was before (where you had to go to a separate area---usually outside to smoke) was fine with me. I wasn't forced to inhale smoke and people could go there to smoke. I just wish that it was illegal for anyone to smoke in any restaurant. I am so sick of having to breathe that nastiness when I go out to eat. And, yes, I request a non-smoking area, but in some restaurants it is very poorly separated/ventilated. I won't go to those places anymore.

Happy 4th of July and God Bless those who gave us the freedom to smoke and post comments on WRAL!!

kidsrn
July 4, 2007 10:25 a.m.

balog - as much as you dislike smoke, do you really want them to quit smoking while thier mom is dying or during some other horrific event in their lives. Hopsitals could easily have someplace on thier campus to allow somkers to get a fix without bothering non-smokers.

lolly
July 4, 2007 10:13 a.m.

balog i see you stooped to name calling how immature but im also glad i dont live next to you. you sound like the type of person that tries to mind eveybodys buisness but your own there is a lot of other pollution in the air other than ciggarette smoke factorys cars trucks etc so you might want to stay inside.

DRA
July 4, 2007 10:04 a.m.