KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - Public Health - Seattle & King County's Tobacco Prevention Program has received three grants for a total of $225,000 from the Washington State Department of Health to reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke.

• Public Health will reach 12 alternative high schools with individually tailored school-based tobacco intervention programs. Alternative high schools have a higher percentage of smokers than regular public high schools in King County, and current tobacco prevention funding in the schools does not include alternative high schools. Public Health is partnering with the Puget Sound Educational Service District, and each school will receive funding, technical assistance, training and materials necessary to execute programs tailored to each school.
  
  
• To combat secondhand smoke exposure, Public Health will collect data and utilize local expertise in developing a plan encouraging businesses to voluntarily limit and eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke by their employees and customers.
  
  

Smoke-free policies play a crucial role in reducing secondhand smoke exposure. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has signed into law New York City's ban, which prohibits smoking in all bars and restaurants. Currently, the Washington Clean Indoor Air Act RCW 70.160 allows bars, taverns, bowling alleys, tobacco shops and restaurants to have smoking sections. "The implied preemption in the current state law has effectively limited local communities from passing tough restrictions limiting exposure to secondhand smoke. In absence of a change in state law, we must rely on educational efforts and voluntary compliance to reduce secondhand smoke in these establishments," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County.

• Public Health will collect data from 20 colleges and utilize the information to develop recommendations for tobacco prevention strategies at these colleges. The colleges have coordinated with Public Health to promote the Great American Smokeout. Other partners include the American Lung Association, Phi Theta Kappa and Bellevue Community College.

"This grant will go a long way in helping us get information to young adults who have been targeted by tobacco advertisers," said Plough. "If we can help counter the messages they see from the tobacco industry and stem tobacco use, we can save lives and significant health care costs."

The Washington State Department of Health Tobacco Prevention and Control Program awarded more than $1 million in grants to community organizations to boost work in reducing tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke. The $1 million in new grants is in addition to more than $5 million the state Department of Health Tobacco Prevention and Control Program has awarded to communities statewide this year. King County currently receives $1.5 million in funding from the Department of Health for anti-tobacco work. The grants are funded by the voter-approved initiative to raise the tax on cigarettes.

For more information on Public Health's Tobacco Prevention Program, please visit: www.metrokc.gov/health/tobacco