Employers Help Employees Get Ready for Smoking Ban

From Wane.com

Fort Wayne has toughest smoking ordinance in the state that bans smoking in every public place. With two and half months to go before the ban takes effect, employers are helping employees kick the habit.

In Fort Wayne places to light up will soon be few and far between. Dick Conklin of Tobacco Free Allen County said cities with smoking bans do have fewer smokers. "We know from research most smokers want to quit smoking and this forces them to do it," he said.

Only about a 1/3 of smokers will take those classes and it takes a lot more then a seminar to stop the addiction. "Success rate is 25 percent with the class only. Add a nicotine replacement therapy and it doubles. A new class of drugs, Chantix, is amazing. 90 percent of the people are successful," said Conklin.

The new drug is available by prescription only, and some businesses are offering it to employees for free. According one Fort Wayne code enforcement officer, other companies are trying to accommodate their smokers by adding outdoor decks that are the required 20 feet from their building, but that could be more complicated then it sounds. "We refer them to the building department because those are things you need to get permits for," said Fire Marshal James Murua.

While many places and people are being proactive to comply with the ban, some will be scrambling come June first to meet the law's requirements.

"Many people take the attitude I want to see it before I believe it. Procrastination, it's human nature," said Conklin. There will be several smoking cessation classes open to the public if your employer doesn't offer one. A schedule is currently being decided on. The price is 15 dollars a person.