HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-03-20 City Commission Packet Materials - SP1. Supplemental Materials 3 - Board of Health Letter of Support A RESOURCE FOR HEALTHY LIVING FROM THE
GALLATIN CITY-COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
HEALTHY • 406,582.3100,hs@gallatin.mt.gov
• 406.582.3120,ehs@gallatin.mt.gov
G A L L A T I N 406.582.3115,wic@gallatin.mt.gov
healthygallatin.org
December 15, 2017
To: Bozeman City Commission and Parks Advisory Board
From: Gallatin City-County Board of Health
Subject:Tobacco Free Parks Initiative
Dear Bozeman City Commission and Parks Advisory Board,
At a public meeting on December 15, 2017, the Gallatin City-County Board of Health voted to signal its
strong support for recommendations by the Bozeman Parks Advisory Board to implement a tobacco-free
parks policy as part of this community's efforts to "lead the way" in eliminating the negative impacts of
tobacco. The Board believes that implementing a comprehensive tobacco-free policy for parks is critical
to creating a safe,family friendly climate that supports those wanting to quit tobacco use and preventing
initiation among children.
As you consider implementing a tobacco-free policy for Bozeman City Parks, please remember tobacco
use remains Montana's leading cause of preventable death and disease.i Over 1,600 Montanan's die each
year due to tobacco use ii and another 175 die from breathing secondhand smoke. Exposure to
secondhand smoke triggers asthma attacks —the most common serious chronic illness among children.
Tobacco use causes cancer, heart disease, lung diseases, premature birth, low birth weight, stillbirth, and
infant death.
Nearly 90%of all people who smoke as adults started before the age of 18iii, so taking steps to stop young
people from smoking is important for future health.The connection between children and tobacco use is
so strong the American Academy of Pediatrics calls it a "pediatric disease". One effective way to halt this
pediatric disease is to adopt policies that support tobacco-free environments.iv
The majority of Bozeman residents do not use tobacco and would support tobacco-free parks. According
to the 2017 Community Health Needs Assessment of Gallatin, Madison, and Park Counties, over 88% of
Bozeman residents do not smoke, and among area residents who do, over one-third tried to quit in the
past 12 months. In a public perception survey of 205 Bozeman residents conducted by the Chronic
Disease Prevention Program in August of 2017, 55% of survey respondents reported experiencing
negative impacts of smoking in parks. In addition, 77% notice litter caused by tobacco use. When asked
how a tobacco free policy would affect visitations to parks, 55% responded their use would continue at
the same level and 33%would increase park visitation if a tobacco free policy were implemented.
215 W. MENDENHALL, BOZEMAN MT 59715
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We encourage you to adopt tobacco free policies at all city-owned parks and recreation facilities. Thank
you for considering.
Sincerely,
Becky Franks
Chair, Gallatin Ci -County��Board of Health
World Health r anization.WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic,2011.Geneva:World Health Organization,2011.
CDC.Smoking- ributable Mortality,Morbidity and Economic Costs(SAMMEC).http://apps,nccd.cdc.gov/sammec/index.asp.
i"U.S.Department of Health and Human Services.The Health Consequences of Smoking-50 Years of Progress:A Report of the Surgeon
General(https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data statistics/sgr/50th-anniversary/index.htm).Atlanta:U.S.Department of Health and Human Services,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion,Office on Smoking and Health,
2014[accessed 2017 Jun 15].
1v U.S.Department of Health and Human Services.Preventing Tobacco Use Among Young People:A Report of the Surgeon
General(https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/sgr/1994/index.htm).Atlanta:U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention,Office on Smoking and Health,1994[accessed 2017 Jun 15].
HEALTHY GALLATIN • A RESOURCE FOR HEALTHY LIVING FROM THE GALLATIN CITY-COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT