Improving state's health hinges on smoking bans, speaker says

Publication Date: 2005-03-02

• Author:Dr. Larry Sharp
• Publication:Winchester (KY) Sun

Banning the practice of smoking in enclosed public places is one of the most significant things people can do to improve public health.

That was the message of Dr. Melinda G. Rowe, Lexington's commissioner of health and featured speaker at Friday's meeting of the Winchester Rotary Club.

Rowe noted that Kentucky has the highest percentage of smokers in the U.S. among adults, teens and pregnant women. Additionally, she said, it ranks first in lung cancer deaths and in the top 10 in heart disease, making smoking the number one cause of preventable death.

Rowe stressed the success of Lexington's 2003 Clean Indoor Air Ordinance involved the efforts of many civic and government agencies and community nonprofit organizations...