Thanks to the Sun Journal for recently covering the Great American Smokeout and highlighting community members’ brave efforts to quit smoking in the article “Quitters unite to help each other.” These are inspiring individuals who are winning the fight to quit tobacco – no small feat.

The article discussed how Auburn Housing Authority residents are affected by a new policy requiring smokers to travel at least 25 feet from their building to smoke. It is important that we not overlook the difficulty residents may have accessing the smoking area outside of their building. However, the housing authority should be applauded for protecting their residents and staff from second-hand smoke inside their residences.

Before Nov. 1, some Auburn Housing Authority residents were able to smoke in their apartments, allowing second-hand smoke, which contains 60 known cancer-causing chemicals, to travel through the building and adversely affect the health of residents and staff. But currently, both the Auburn and Lewiston Housing Authorities are taking this important policy step to create healthier environments for all. (Lewiston Housing Authority’s policy will go into effect in March 2009.)

While each individual has the right to make decisions that affect their own health, policies like these provide us all with a healthier environment. As Judith Tobin, the Auburn Housing Authority resident from the article expressed at the Great American Smokeout, quitting wasn’t in her original plans, but now she’s happy about the new policy. And she is on her way to being smoke-free.

Erin Guay, Lewiston

Physical Activity, Nutrition and Tobacco Manager

Healthy Androscoggin