Canada Makes Federal Prisons Smoke Free
Earlier this week the Canadian government began implementing a smoking ban in their country’s federal prisons.
This latest action, which prohibits smoking in all indoor and outdoor locations on prison property, expands on a 2006 policy which prohibited smoking inside cells and other indoor areas. Since prison grounds are now smoke-free zones, prison employees will need to leave prison property before lighting up.
While the ban will reduce the risk of cancer for criminals, staff members and visitors inside the prisons, some fear nicotine withdrawal may lead to escalated violence.
The widespread ban took effect at maximum-security prisons on May 5, 2008. Plans call for it to be expanded to medium-security facilities on May 20th and minimum-security facilties on June 2nd.
The Correctional Service of Canada has budgeted $1M to provide incarcerated smokers counseling, nicotine patches and additional tools to help them quit. Some prisoners are upset about the ban, but others are embracing it as a chance to improve personal health. As one said,
“For myself, I’ve always wanted to quit smoking so this is the perfect opportunity, but I couldn’t say that for everybody.”
Dale Tremblay
Inmate, Archambault Federal Penitentiary
Health statistics indicate inmates are three times more likely to smoke than other Canadian citizens.
Source: cbc.ca
Related Links: American Cancer Society; Health Canada; ScienceDaily
Related Podcast: Smoking Bans Help People Quit, Research Shows from NPR
Technorati Tags: secondhand smoke; lung cancer; public health; tobacco; cigarettes; smoking cessation; addiction; occupational safety
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