Assessing and advancing smokefree housing model policies in the United States

Smokefree housing is rapidly becoming the next arena for tobacco control policy makers, public health professionals and healthy housing advocates for reducing exposure to secondhand smoke, especially among children. Although there are complex issues involved, there is a wealth of information and model policies that have already been created by organizations, agencies, and housing authorities in 17 U.S. states. The Asthma Regional Council of New England (ARC) undertook an analysis of existing and emerging Smokefree housing policies around the nation. The rationale for this analysis was a recent U.S. Surgeon General's report which advocated promotion of strategies to reduce children's exposure to secondhand smoke, and a BRFSS analysis of asthma rates in New England which demonstrated that children living with smokers had a 44% increased likelihood of developing asthma. ARC is dedicated to promoting evidence-based, promising environmental policies to reduce the incidence and severity of asthma, and therefore decided to methodically investigate the opportunities and barriers involved in promoting Smokefree housing policies in the region, a potentially controversial strategy among public health professionals. This session will; 1) outline the arguments in favor of, and against, Smokefree policies in multi-unit housing, 2) share the findings from the national assessment of policies, 3) explore models and considerations in developing and implementing such policies, and 4) provide guidance to stakeholders seeking to mitigate the effects of environmental tobacco smoke in public housing, private apartment buildings, and condominiums.