The McCracken County Medical Association is seeking to ban smoking in indoor public places in the City of Paducah and McCracken County. The Committee for a Smoke-free Paducah supports the Society in this effort. A number of organizations have also given their support to the effort to make Paducah and McCracken County smoke-free.   View Supporting Members and Organizations

Secondhand smoke (SHS) is the third leading cause of preventable death in the Unitided States.

It is responsible for an estimated 3,000 lung cancer deaths annually in never-smokers in the US. It also accounts for over 35,000 deaths annually from coronary heart disease in never-smokers. (Read more)

If you would like to learn how to get involved, or want more information please send an email to: info@smokefreepaducah.com

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• Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) exposure remains a common public health hazard, which is entirely preventable.
• Optimal protection of smokers and nonsmokers requires smoke-free environments.
• Even among smokers support for smoking restrictions and smoke-free environments is high.
• Studies have demonstrated that smoke-free environments decrease daily tobacco consumption among smokers and increase tobacco cessation.
• Studies demonstrate that nonsmoking sections in restaurants and bars provide protection from ETS, which is at best trivial. In several studies the particulate matter measured was actually HIGHER in the nonsmoking section than in the smoking section.
• Children of parents who smoke but sit in a nonsmoking area are 15% less likely to smoke themselves as adults compared to their counterparts who sit in smoking sections.
• Multiple studies in various municipalities which have instituted bans demonstrate “no statistically significant changes in restaurant and bar revenues….. after the smoking ban took effect”. Preliminary data suggest this to be the case in Lexington. Several studies have demonstrated an increase in revenue after institution of a ban.
• ETS causes about 3,000 lung cancer deaths annually among adult nonsmokers. Scientific studies have also estimated that ETS accounts for as many as 35,000 deaths from ischemic heart disease annually in the United States. More research is needed to know exactly how recent changes in ETS exposure may affect lung cancer rates among adult nonsmokers.
• Involuntary exposure to ETS remains a common, serious public health hazard that is entirely preventable by adopting and enforcing appropriate regulatory policies. Smoke-free environments are the most effective method for reducing ETS exposure. Healthy People 2010 objectives address this issue and seek optimal protection of nonsmokers through policies, regulations, and laws requiring smoke-free environments in all schools, work sites, and public places.