New study: many local health directors unsure of authority to curtail smoking

Publication Date: 2005-07-08

• Author:DAVID WILLIAMSON
• Publication:UNC-CH News Services

Local health department directors across North Carolina are confused about state laws covering whether their facilities can be made smoke-free, but still strongly support such policies, according to a new University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill study.

The UNC schools of medicine and public health research showed that a majority of the directors were unsure or did not think they could enact tobacco-free policies on health department grounds.

In response to the confusion, North Carolina's Association of Local Health Directors worked with the N.C. General Assembly to amend state law this year enabling local health departments to implement more stringent policies, including eliminating smoking outside health department buildings.