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Tobacco Free

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1. What is Maricopa County’s tobacco-free policy and when does it take effect?

As of March 16, 2016, the use of any form of tobacco - including cigars, cigarettes, pipe tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco - is prohibited inside and outside of all Maricopa County-owned or leased buildings and adjacent areas, including parking lots, garages, and walkways. For more information, please review the policy.

2. Whom does the tobacco-free policy affect?

All employees, visitors, and vendors will be asked to adhere to the tobacco-free policy while on Maricopa County property. For more information, please review the policy.

3. How will the tobacco-free policy change be communicated to employees, visitors, and vendors?

This policy will be announced through Maricopa County’s employee communications outlets including email, website, and intranet beginning with the Great American Smokeout in November and continuing through its implementation. For more information, please review the policy.

4. How will this change make a positive difference for Maricopa County?

Maricopa County is committed to protecting the health and safety of our employees. Creating a tobacco-free environment allows for a healthy, comfortable, and productive working environment. We are joining a national trend of more than 1,400 other counties and cities that have gone smoke-free. For more information, please review the policy.

5. How was the tobacco-free policy developed?

The tobacco-free policy was initiated by Maricopa County employees and has been a long-term collaboration of employees and management from an expansive representation of departments with both smokers and non-smokers. For more information, please review the policy.

6. How will visitors know that the Maricopa County property is tobacco-free?

Signage about our tobacco-free policy will be placed on all buildings, garages and properties beginning early 2016. You may also alert visitors about this policy by directing them to the Tobacco Free page.

7. Does the tobacco-free policy apply to all Maricopa County properties?

Yes, all properties owned or leased by Maricopa County are covered under this policy, with the exception of County park land. However some leased properties may only have certain floors or sections leased by the County. These facilities would fall under the Smoke-Free Arizona Act (A.R.S. $36-601.01), which prohibits smoking indoors and within 20 feet of an entrance or window. However, use of smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes will now be prohibited indoors in all facilities. For more information, please review the policy.

8. Will the tobacco-free policy be in effect during non-business hours, including government holidays and weekends?

The tobacco-free policy is in effect 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For more information, please review the policy.

9. Can I use tobacco in my own vehicle on Maricopa County property?

No, a vehicle parked on Maricopa County Property may not be used for smoking. For more information, please review the policy.

10. Will there still be designated smoking areas?

Properties will not have designated smoking areas. For the safety of tobacco users at worksites with unique challenges, a designated smoking area may be established at the discretion of a committee appointed by the County Manager. For more information, contact your appointing authority. The County has made the criteria, process, and request for available online.

11. How is the tobacco-free policy different from the current policies about smoking and tobacco use?

Previously, those who wished to use tobacco products at Maricopa County properties could do so outdoors, at least 20 feet away from any building entrance or window. This new policy further encourages health and wellness at Maricopa County by completely prohibiting the use of all tobacco products - including cigars, cigarettes, pipe tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco - on our properties. For more information, please review the policy.

12. How will the tobacco-free policy be enforced?

Maricopa County expects that both smokers and non-smokers will cooperate in adhering to this policy in an atmosphere of mutual respect and consideration. We strongly encourage all employees to promote compliance with this policy by reminding others, as necessary. Violations may be reported to a supervisor. For more information, please review the policy.

13. What are the consequences for people who violate the tobacco-free policy?

Employees are required to abide by all Maricopa County policies in their day-to-day activities. Non-adherence may result in disciplinary action. For more information, please review the policy.

14. Is smokeless tobacco also banned?

Yes. Because alternative tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco (known as chew, dip and snuff), hookah, and e-cigarettes have been found to be detrimental to health, these products are also banned because they do not fit with Maricopa County’s environment of health and wellness. As a result, Maricopa County adopted a 100% tobacco-free policy. Anyone who wants to use these products will have to do so outside of County property. For more information, please review the policy.

15. Are e-cigarettes included in the tobacco-free policy?

Yes. E-cigarettes produce air pollutants and have a heating element that can serve as a source of ignition. Most tobacco-free policies now include e-cigarettes. For more information, please review the policy.

16. Are e-cigarettes a safe alternative to smoking?

There is insufficient evidence about the safety of e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes are not FDA approved and are not considered an approved cessation device. For more information, please review the policy.

17. What will be done with the ashtrays around the buildings?

Ashtrays will be removed from around the buildings because they are a receptacle for a product that will no longer be used on Maricopa County property. For more information, please review the policy.

18. How will property owners adjacent to County properties be affected by the tobacco-free policy? Is there a plan to handle employees who just travel to the nearest off-campus sidewalk/building to smoke?

Properties adjacent to Maricopa County properties set their own policies regarding tobacco use. We are asking Maricopa County employees, visitors and vendors to be courteous when going offsite to use tobacco products by disposing of tobacco products and packaging in appropriate receptacles and being aware of others nearby who may not wish to be exposed to secondhand smoke. For more information, please review the policy.

19. What should I do if I see someone smoking or using other tobacco products?

It is possible that a person smoking on the Maricopa County property is unaware of the tobacco-free policy. If you see someone smoking after March 16, 2016, kindly inform him/her that Maricopa County has gone tobacco-free, and ask them to extinguish their tobacco product if you are comfortable doing so. You also may ask if they need directions to a nearby, offsite location. Violations may also be reported to a supervisor. For more information, please review the policy.

20. What resources are available to help those who want to quit tobacco?

Maricopa County offers two tobacco cessation programs to help its employees quit tobacco.

StayWell Phone Coaching:

This 5-session phone coaching program is offered to employees who are enrolled in a County-sponsored medical plan. Call 877-678-8926 to enroll.

Peer-Supported Quit Tobacco Program:

These 6-week, 30-minute, virtual sessions are available to all employees and offers support to quit tobacco or e-cigarettes for good. Sessions are facilitated by a tobacco cessation expert from the Maricopa County Department of Public Health. To get more information or find the next class, contact 602-372-7272.

21. Can I use the money I put aside in my flexible spending account or HSA to pay for costs related to smoking cessation aids and counseling that are not covered by insurance?

Generally, pre-tax dollars set aside in your flexible spending account or H.S.A. may be used for reimbursement of out-of-pocket costs for certain smoking cessation aids and counseling. For employees and dependents covered under a County-sponsored medical plan, most smoking cessation products (over the counter and prescription) are covered by your insurance with a doctor's prescription. For more information, please review the policy.

22. Will Maricopa County require people to quit using tobacco products?

Maricopa County acknowledges that the use of tobacco products is a personal choice. However, the use of tobacco does not fit with the culture of health and wellness the County encourages. Though some may choose to use tobacco products offsite, by removing tobacco use from Maricopa County properties we can better protect those who choose not to smoke from the effects of secondhand smoke, as well as help those who are trying to quit tobacco. For more information, please review the policy.

23. Isn’t this tobacco-free policy a violation of my civil and constitutional rights?

There is no “right to smoke” under state or federal law. Maricopa County has the authority to govern and regulate tobacco use on its property. Smoking in public places produces secondhand smoke, which has been scientifically proven to harm others, even if they do not smoke. Banning tobacco on Maricopa County properties protects everyone from exposure to secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke contains over 4,000 chemical compounds - more than 50 of which are known to cause cancer in humans or animals. There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.

If someone wishes to use tobacco products, they may freely do so outside of Maricopa County property. Learn more from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about secondhand smoke.