House Speaker Pro Tempore Harold Wright, R-Weatherford, has scheduled an interim study to examine modernization to the Smoking in Public Places and Indoor Workplaces Act as a way to address second-hand smoke exposure in Oklahoma. The House Health Services and Long-Term Care Committee’s study is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, in Room 432-A…
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) has a new policy restricting smoking by employees, patients, visitors, volunteers, contractors and vendors at its health care facilities that became effective October 1. The Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA) smoke-free policy applies to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, any other combustion of tobacco and non-Federal Drug Administration approved electronic nicotine…
Oklahoma has a ban on tobacco products for public and private school buildings and vehicles. After conducting an interim study this fall, state Sen. J.J. Dossett has filed legislation for the 2019 session that would extend that ban to vaping. “If you look at the studies coming out from the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and…
Fewer pregnant Oklahomans are smoking, according to a report by The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH). Data shows a dramatic decline of more than one-third (33.5 percent) in smoking among pregnant women since 2009. Along with this improvement, there has been a drop in infant deaths of more than 10 percent. “To help continue…