 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Elizabeth Emerson, MA, Tobacco Education Program, Marin County Health and Human Services, P.O. Box 5595, Novato, CA 94948, 415-499-4216, smokefreeint@earthlink.net
California is a smoke free state now, only after over 130 local campaigns that addressed hospitals, schools, public places, workplaces, private clubs and restaurants one town or city at a time. Smoke free bars and gaming clubs were addressed later in the decade with the state-wide minimum standard law. Because of well funded opposition from the tobacco industry, the process took over ten years in this large ethnically and politically diverse agricultural state. This presentation is based on 53 interviews conducted by the author, in which advocates shared their mistakes, practical lessons learned, and advice for other states and countries in campaigns, implementation and long term enforcement of clean indoor air laws. The case studies summarized in the author's research: "Clean Indoor Air Lessons" (English and Spanish publication) that is used as a practical training tool in North, Central and South America, describe the special challenges of tourist, rural, and large urban areas. This complex laboratory of social norm change offers lessons for tobacco control and other public health movements nationally and internationally.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Advocacy, Tobacco Policy
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.