Carson City, NV December 11, 2018
State of Nevada,
Health Community Celebrate Twelfth Clean Indoor Air Act Anniversary
Carson City, NV – The arrival of the new year marks Nevada’s twelfth year enjoying
clean indoor air. The Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act (NCIAA) celebrated its
official anniversary on December 8th, 2018. This anniversary highlights
the progress Nevada has made in protecting its citizens against unnecessary
health risks while underscoring an active push toward a more comprehensive
smoke-free policy.
The NCIAA went
into effect in December 2006 after it was passed by Nevada voters in November.
The policy has faced many legal challenges since passage, and in 2011, it was
amended to exclude establishments prohibiting those under the age of 21 from
entering. Today, the NCIAA protects school and childcare facilities, grocery
and convenience stores, shopping malls, video arcades, government and public
buildings, restaurants, and movie theaters. The NCIAA continues to encounter
challenges as the tobacco industry modernizes, including the development and
advancement of e-cigarettes and other vaping products. Maintaining, protecting,
and expanding the benefits provided by the NCIAA continues to be a priority for
all tobacco control initiatives statewide.
Inhalation of
secondhand smoke contributes to chronic diseases experienced traditionally by
tobacco users including: asthma, cancer, heart disease, and Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome (SIDS). Health care costs in Nevada directly caused by smoking reach
$1.1 billion annually.1 Children are disproportionately impacted by
secondhand smoke inhalation; on average, children are exposed to more
secondhand smoke than nonsmoking adults. Two of every five children ages three
to 11 are exposed to secondhand smoke in the United States.2 The
NCIAA seeks to protect the most vulnerable Nevadans.
“As we reflect on the 12th
anniversary of Nevada’s Clean Indoor Air Act, we recognize the positive impact
this law has had on the health, comfort, and environment of the citizens of
Nevada by limiting exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. Clean air
provides a huge return on the public’s investment including reduced health care
costs and less lost work and school days. The Chronic Disease Prevention
and Health Promotion Section at the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral
Health strives to continue the work of protecting public health by supporting
further reduction of secondhand smoke exposure in Nevada,” said Jennifer Bonk,
MS, Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Section Manager at the
Division of Public and Behavioral Health.
To file a NCIAA
violation complaint, please visit Washoe County Health District, Southern Nevada Health District, Carson City Health and Human Services, or call
your local health authority.
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1 U.S Department of Health and Human Services,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017
2 Campaign for
Tobacco-Free Kids, 2017