Houston Healthcare Going Tobacco-Free

Houston Healthcare is joining hospitals across Georgia in an effort to become tobacco-free. As of November 3rd, all Houston Healthcare facilities and campuses will be tobacco-free. Tobacco use of any kind will not be permitted inside any of Houston Healthcare's buildings or outside on the grounds. In addition, there will no longer be designated areas for people to use tobacco anywhere on the Houston Healthcare campuses.

"Houston Healthcare is committed to the health and safety of all of our employees, patients, and visitors," states Grady W. (Skip) Philips, III, Chief Executive Officer of Houston Healthcare. "As a healthcare provider, we feel that we should take a leadership role on major health issues. Tobacco use is the number one preventable cause of death in the world. Making our campuses and facilities tobacco-free firmly supports our belief in the health and wellness of our people."

The dangers of tobacco use and second hand smoke have been clearly identified. According to the Georgia Department of Human Resources' Division of Public Health, more than 10,000 Georgians die each year from tobacco use, with one out of every six adults dying as a direct result of smoking. Smoking costs Georgians $1.8 billion in direct health care costs each year and kills more people than alcohol, AIDS, car crashes, illegal drugs, murders, and suicides combined. In the state of Georgia, nearly one person in every five over the age of 10 uses some form of tobacco product. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, secondhand smoke is very dangerous for everyone, especially for children or people in poor health. Approximately 184,000 children in Georgia under the age of 18 will die a premature death from the effects of tobacco.

"We are asking for our community's support of our tobacco-free initiative," adds Philips. "We understand how stressful a stay in the hospital can be for you and your family, and we take very seriously our obligation to take care of you and your family. Our decision to make our facilities and campuses tobacco-free is not an attempt to force anyone to quit smoking. Rather, the tobacco-free initiative is a concrete way that we at Houston Healthcare can demonstrate our ongoing commitment to healthy living."

Houston Healthcare understands how difficult it can be to quit smoking and/or using tobacco products. For anyone interested in quitting, Houston Healthcare offers a free tobacco cessation program. Call (478) 923-9771 for more information.