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SAMHSA's Smoke-Free Conference PolicyEffective August 15, 2008, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has adopted a smoke-free conference policy. SummarySAMHSA's Smoke-Free Conference Policy (pdf format / 24 kbytes) requires that all meetings and conferences with 20 or more participants, and sponsored or organized by a SAMHSA employee(s), be held in a town, city, county, or state that is smoke-free. The policy includes SAMHSA conferences done through a contract. In addition, SAMHSA encourages adherence to the Smoke-Free Conference Policy for conferences for which SAMHSA is a co-sponsor. How to Determine a Smoke-Free Town, City, County, or State:To determine if a locality is covered by a state or local law that requires smoke-free enclosed workplaces and public places including restaurants and meeting facilities, an online smoke-free locator tool is being provided by the National Cancer Institute for federal agencies that have adopted this policy: Exceptions to the Policy:
The full policy is available at http://www.samhsa.gov/smokefree/SAMHSASmokefreeConferencePolicy.pdf / 24 kbytes Background:This policy is based on the extensive data regarding the dangers of secondhand smoke. These dangers were summarized in the 2006 U.S. Surgeon General's report, The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke. Major conclusions of the report include:
SAMHSA recognizes that secondhand smoke exposure poses serious health risks to nonsmokers. The Smoke-Free Conference Policy is intended to protect SAMHSA employees and other conference participants from the adverse effects associated with secondhand smoke. This policy will require that conferences occurring in the U.S. and sponsored or organized by SAMHSA be held in smoke-free communities. For more information on secondhand smoke and smoke-free meeting policies, visit the National Cancer Institute's Smoke-Free Meetings Policy Web page: http://smokefreemeetings.cancer.gov. Questions:For questions, contact Doug Tipperman at douglas.tipperman@samhsa.hhs.gov or 240-276-2442. |
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration • 1 Choke Cherry Road • Rockville, MD 20857
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