NEWS SERVICES 

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Chapel Hill, NC 27599-6210
 

News Release

For immediate use

June 21, 2004 -- No. 328

CHAPEL HILL -- Raising awareness of the health hazards of secondhand smoke is the goal of a new media campaign by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Buncombe County Project ASSIST and the Chowan Regional Health Care Foundation.

The N.C. Advisory Committee on Cancer Coordination and Control is funding the $40,000 effort, which the UNC School of Medicine's department of family medicine will spearhead. Organizers hope eventually to expand the program statewide.

A first of its kind in North Carolina, the campaign coincides with the Surgeon General's latest report on diseases caused by smoking, according to Dr. Adam Goldstein, associate professor of family medicine. Non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke also are at risk for such illnesses as cardiovascular disease, lung cancer and breathing difficulty.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that anyone at risk of heart disease should especially avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.

"We hope people will realize that to someone with breathing problems, involuntary exposure to secondhand smoke is as much a barrier to normal activity as three flights of stairs is to someone who can't walk," Goldstein said.

The theme of the campaign is "What Are You Breathing?" he said. It was created to boost awareness of the toxic and carcinogenic chemicals released into the air by burning cigarettes.

"Secondhand tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, more than 60 of which are known to be toxic or to cause cancer," Goldstein said. "It is responsible for more than 1,600 heart disease deaths in North Carolina each year, 81 lung cancer deaths and many other illnesses, including asthma and respiratory infections."

"We hope ‘What Are You Breathing?' messages will have a big impact on residents of Chowan County, and we are excited about being part of this campaign," said nurse Jean Bunch, tobacco addiction specialist with the nicoTEEN FREE WAY program at the Chowan Regional Health Care Foundation. "Our desire is to create healthy smoke-free environments for everyone, and our passion is fueled by stories about people whose lives that have been adversely affected by tobacco smoke. It is a win-win situation when North Carolinians begin to de-normalize tobacco use and view secondhand smoke as an environmental toxin."

The media campaign will include newspaper ads and inserts, billboards, church bulletin inserts and flyers that list some of the health effects of secondhand smoke, along with resources for more information about secondhand smoke and ways people can protect themselves, their families and their communities. A toll-free phone number, (866) 88-LUNGS, will be available to direct callers to local resources in secondhand smoke prevention and smoking cessation.

"This is an exciting time," Goldstein said. "We hope many North Carolina citizens will call to ask for more information and become involved in securing cleaner, healthier air in the places where they live, work and play. We already know people across North Carolina want smoke-free public places. This campaign will help them become more involved."

nicoTEEN FREE WAY will highlight the "What Are You Breathing?" campaign at the Edenton Steamers-Peninsula Pilots baseball game on July 29 at 7 p.m. For free tickets, call Jean Bunch at 252-482-6755. Baseballs, fans, stadium cushions and other incentives will be given away at the game.

To learn more about the health effects of secondhand smoke, visit www.smokefreenc.org or call (866) 88-LUNGS.

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Note: For details about the media campaign in Asheville, contact Karen Caldwell at (828) 250-5048 or karen.caldwell@buncombecounty.org. For Edenton details, contact Jean Bunch at (252) 482-6755 or JBunch@uhseast.com.

Family Medicine Contact: Anne Butzen, (919) 843-8615 or info@smokefreenc.org

News Services Contact: David Williamson, (919) 962-8596