Smoke-Free Policies in Multi-Unit Housing Inhaling secondhand smoke (SHS) can cause chronic disease and lead to death. Exposure to SHS places infants and children at particular risk for asthma, ear infections, and sudden infant death syndrome.1 For adult nonsmokers, exposure to SHS can lead to stroke, lung cancer and coronary heart disease.1 In recent years, South Dakota (SD) has enacted codified laws to protect people from SHS exposure in workplaces, restaurants, and bars through smoke-free policy implementation. However, Multi-unit housing (MUH) settings are not covered by South Dakota’s smoke-free laws. Sixteen percent of the SD population, or roughly 132,000 people, reside in MUH settings.2 SHS exposure is especially problematic in MUH. Objective research data has demonstrated that smoke can travel, or infiltrate, throughout buildings in shared heating vents, electrical outlets, open windows, or even small cracks in drywall.3,4 The SD Department of Health has established goals to reduce exposure to SHS in MUH through the promotion of smoke-free policies, and recently supported a project with the Office of Nursing Research at South Dakota State University to assess the number of smoke-free MUH policies in the state as well as to identify barriers to implementing smoke-free policies.
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Rates of Smoke-Free Policy in MUH A survey was conducted with 324 MUH owners in 27 counties throughout the state of SD. Over half (54%) reported a written smoke-free policy for their properties. Written policy was defined as including the policy within the lease agreement for the property. An additional 10% of property owners reported having a smoke-free policy, but the policy was either not included in the lease agreement or no lease agreement existed for the property. About one-third (32%) of owners surveyed reported no smoke-free policy. Smoke-free policies were less common among property owners who smoked. Property owners with one or more units subsidized by Housing and Urban Development were also less likely to have a smoke-free policy for the property. Barriers to Implementing a Smoke-Free Policy Among owners without a smoke-free policy, nearly half (48%) had considered implementing one. These owners expressed three main concerns that have prevented them from developing a smoke-free policy, including: 1) perception that turn-over and vacancy rates would increase, 2) potential objection from existing tenants, and 3) potential enforcement problems. However, owners who had implemented a smoke-free policy for their MUH properties reported no adverse effects related to turnover
SOUTH DAKOTA MUNICIPALITIES
