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Personal Message
These past few months I've received numerous calls from reporters asking how many new Clean Indoor Air Act violations have occurred in Missoula County. I have been glad to tell them that Missoula has not seen an influx in complaints. In fact, Missoula did not have any new complaints with the Clean Indoor Air Act during the month of October.
Missoula has supported clean indoor air for a long time. Our community was the first in Montana to adopt an ordinance requiring smokefree workplaces. It was also a leader in bars that went smokefree before the full implementation of the CIAA. In addition, our community has been supportive of other smokefree policies. We have smokefree city park play areas. Our housing authority requires their multi unit dwellings to be smokefree as well.
As we move forward, I believe that Missoula will continue to support clean air for all community members.
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 Clearing the Air: CIAA FAQs
Many questions have surfaced throughout the community since the full implementation of the Clean Indoor Air Act. To "clear the air" the following are answers to the most frequently asked questions:
- No businesses that are exempt from the CIAA (i.e., smoke shops, hookah lounges, private clubs, country clubs, etc).
- The Clean Indoor Air Act DOES NOT apply to tribal member owned establishments on tribal lands on the reservations.
- Establishments must always be smokefree, even when closed.
- "No Smoking" signs are required at all public entrances of all public buildings.
- E-cigarettes are allowed under the CIAA at this time.
- CIAA complaints cannot be anonymous.
- Complaints are able to be entered online on the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention website. Paper complaint forms are also available online or at the Missoula City-County Health Department.
Tobacco Free Missoula County will be collecting more questions and posting the answers on the next e-newsletter. Please email Erica Rollins with any questions you have.
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 Missoula Hospitals Go Tobacco Free
A growing number of hospitals, outpatient medical facilities, and mental health programs across the country and in Montana have created a tobacco free campus policy. Currently, thirty hospitals in Montana have a tobacco free policy in place and more will be joining them in 2010.
On October 1st, Missoula's two hospitals, Community Medical Center and Saint Patrick Hospital, and Tamarack Management Incorporated implemented a tobacco free campus policy. The ten month implementation plan included policy development, quit assistance for employees, provisions for patients and visitors, and changes in the physical campus environment.
A planning committee guided this implementation plan and policy development. The committee was diverse, including representation from: Community Medical Center, Saint Patrick Hospital, and Tamarack Management Incorporated. Community Medical Center Chairperson, Michelle Stone and Saint Patrick Hospital Chairperson, Kyle Larson, can be contacted directly for specific questions related to this joint effort.
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 Smoke Shacks and E-Cigarettes
Smoke shacks are a hot topic right now across Montana. The Clean Indoor Air Act requires all enclosed public and workplaces be smokefree, but there are no restrictions on nonenclosed outdoor smoking shelters. These smoking shelters have been popping up all over town ranging from makeshift lean-tos, bus stop- like shelters, horse trailers, sheds, gazebos, and attached patios.
Under the law, the state and local health departments do not have the authority to regulate nonenclosed smoking shelters. However, the Missoula City-County Health Department is recommending owners contact other regulatory departments for possible permits.
E-cigarettes are new products that are emerging in Montana and across the United States. Currently there is one Missoula retail store and numerous websites to purchase these products. E-cigarettes are nicotine deliverance devices that are currently not regulated under tobacco laws. They look like cigarettes, but the user inhales and exhales a vapor solution that contains nicotine. They come in flavors such as strawberry, chocolate, mint, vanilla and coffee. At this point some of the major concerns regarding e-cigarettes are their potential for increased addiction, accessibility to children, and if there is any negative secondhand exposure health impact. At this time e-cigarettes do not fall under the CIAA and are allowed to be used inside enclosed buildings. There has only been one FDA study on these products so far. For more information on e-cigarettes, see the links below:
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 Bringing Smoke Home
According to the Surgeon General, almost 22 million children are exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS) in the United States. Unfortunately, we know that Missoula children are included in these statistics. Homes and cars are the primary locations where children are being exposed to secondhand smoke. More research is coming out showing SHS exposure in cars is comparable and in many cases higher than in smoky bars. (Click here to see a 2009 Montana report on youth exposure to secondhand smoke.)
Secondhand smoke has serious impacts on the health of infants and children. Infants exposed to SHS are more likely to die from SIDS than infants who are not exposed. They also have weaker lungs which increases the risk of other health problems. Second hand smoke exposure in children increases the incidences of bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma attacks and ear infections.
Tobacco Free Missoula's goal is to increase the media and educational messaging regarding smokefree homes and cars in Missoula. Please contact Erica Rollins if you have insight or interest in helping with this project.
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Lastest Events
The Great American Smokeout was Thursday, November 19th. Tobacco Free Missoula County partnered with five Missoula restaurants to offer free quit kits and discounted turkey specials for the day. The five restaurants that participated were IHOP, Perkins, Finnegan's Family Restaurant, Uptown Diner, and Denny's.
We gave away 81 quit kits!!!
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