Effect of a tobacco ban in Kentucky prisons

Second-hand smoke (SHS) is responsible for approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths and 30,000 to 50,000 heart disease deaths a year among the non-smoking U.S. population. Smoking bans have been found to reduce the incidence of acute myocardial infarctions (AMI) and asthma emergency department visits in the year after the bans were implemented in population-based studies. The Kentucky Department of Corrections (KY DOC) has instituted a complete tobacco ban in five of the 13 state prisons. This presentation will report on the findings from an on-going study of three state prisons: one male and one female prison with tobacco bans and one male prison as a control that continues to allow smoking. The 18 month period before and after the ban is being examined for the incidence of AMI and number of inhalers for asthma/COPD that was filled. Based on the results of population-based studies it is anticipated that there will be a reduction in incidence of AMI, the use of inhalers and in the cost associated with each.