FARMERVILLE, LA EMBRACES SMOKE-FREE WORKPLACES FOR EVERYONE
Oct. 11, 2022
Farmerville, La. – (October 11, 2022) – Last night, the Town of Farmerville, La. has expanded on the 2007 Statewide Smoke-Free Air Act to now include bars and gaming facilities. As a result, employees and patrons of bars and gaming facilities will no longer be exposed to cancer-causing secondhand smoke. The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living (TFL) applauds this move.
“Farmerville bar and gaming employees will now enjoy the same benefits and workplace protections, as office workers and other professions. This is a big win for not only Farmerville but Northeast Louisiana,” said Jennifer Haneline, TFL Regional Manager for Northeast Louisiana. “We appreciate that a rural town, like Farmerville, can make big changes to promote health equity.”
The smoke-free ordinance will ensure all residents will be protected from the dangerous health effects of secondhand smoke from vaping and other tobacco smoke in indoor workplaces. Farmerville is the 33rd municipality in the state of Louisiana to become smoke-free. This brings the total population of Louisiana residents protected by comprehensive smoke-free ordinances to 30.39% of the total Louisiana population.
“We are excited that Farmerville joined other towns and cities across the state that are helping move Louisiana forward,” said Farmerville Mayor Crow. We look forward to seeing the positive effect the comprehensive indoor smoke-free ordinance will have on the health and quality of life of the people of Farmerville.”
For more information on the growing movement to protect all Louisiana employees from secondhand smoke, visit www.HealthierAirForAll.org.
Louisianans interested in quitting tobacco can visit www.QuitWithUsLa.org or call 1-800-Quit-Now to connect with a quit coach and create a personalized Quit Plan. Coaches are available 24/7, seven days a week. Quit With Us, Louisiana also provides counseling services over the phone, via text, through an app, or on the website chatbox. Quit Coaches can also provide cessation medication and make recommendations on what prescription medications participants can review with their doctor. Young adults and individuals seeking to quit vaping can get vaping-specific cessation assistance by texting “VAPEFREE” to 873373.
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The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living (TFL) engages in local and statewide tobacco control policy efforts that focus on tobacco prevention and initiation among youth, eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke, promote cessation services, and identify and eliminate tobacco-related disparities. TFL is guided by best practices in tobacco control and envisions a healthier Louisiana by reducing the excessive burden of tobacco use on all Louisianans. For more information visit www.tobaccofreeliving.org. To find out more about the dangers of secondhand smoke and show your support for a smoke-free Louisiana, visit www.healthierairforall.org. To learn more about quitting tobacco, visit www.quitwithusla.org.
About the Louisiana Cancer Research Center (LCRC)
Founded by the Louisiana State Legislature in 2002, the LCRC is a public-private partnership designed to promote education about cancer and conduct important research on the diagnosis, detection, treatment, and prevention of cancer in Louisiana. The LCRC partners with the public at large and four major cancer research institutions in Louisiana: LSU Health, Tulane University, Ochsner Health System, and Xavier University. More information about the LCRC is available at www.louisianacancercenter.org.
About the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI)
LPHI, founded in 1997, is a statewide community-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofit and public health institute committed to ensuring all Louisianans have just and fair opportunities to be healthy and well. Our work focuses on areas that touch public health, including tobacco prevention and control, building healthier communities, assessing needs of communities, supporting the whole health needs of individuals and families from early childhood to older adults, COVID-19, and more. We create authentic partnerships with both communities and partners to align action for health. For more information, visit www.lphi.org.