Tobacco-Free
Frequently Asked Questions
Effective February 1, 2010, Brazosport Regional Health System plans to implement a tobacco-free campus policy. The new policy extends the current tobacco free hospital policy to include all outside grounds of properties owned by Brazosport Regional. This policy applies to all employees, medical staff, volunteers, patients and visitors.
Q: Why is Brazosport Regional tobacco-free?
A: As healthcare leaders in the community, Brazosport Regional’s goal is to reduce high rates of tobacco-related diseases, provide a healthy workplace environment, and encourage positive healthy behaviors. By making our environment tobacco-free, we are addressing the single leading cause of preventable death in the United States.
Q: Where on campus does this tobacco-free policy apply?
A: Everywhere. Tobacco use is prohibited on all areas of the campus, inside and outside, including cars that are parked on BRHS property.
Q: How dangerous is tobacco use?
A: Lung cancer is the leading cause of death for men and women. Every 8 seconds, a human life is lost to tobacco use somewhere in the world, resulting in approximately 5 million deaths annually. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, secondhand smoke exposure at home or work causes premature death and serious disease in nonsmokers. With that said, it is Brazosport Regional’s mission to provide an overall healthy environment to patients and visitors.
Q: Isn’t using tobacco a legal right?
A: Hospitals nation-wide want to maintain a healthy environment for patients and visitors, as well as for employees. For this reason, the personal property of the facility maintains the legal right to ask individuals to refrain from using tobacco.
Q: What does this tobacco-free policy extension mean for patients and visitors?
A: With smoking and breathing second-hand smoke being the leading cause of many illnesses, Brazosport Regional along with other hospitals across the country are working to encourage patients to adopt healthier tobacco-free lifestyles in order to decrease such statistics. Because of our mission to improve the health of the communities we serve, we believe that we have a responsibility to take a leadership role on this major health issue and promote a healthier environment by becoming tobacco-free.
Q: How will the tobacco-free campus policy be enforced?
A: Campus-wide signage will alert all visitors on our campus of the tobacco-free policy. Patients will be notified in a variety of ways, including at pre-admission, during admission, and even by their physician.
Q: How do patients/visitors who use tobacco products seek help?
A: Upon hospital admission, patients are encouraged to tell admission staff if they use tobacco products. This will be forwarded to their physician who can make arrangements to provide them with appropriate resources so that every inpatient can be comfortable. If you are ready to quit, there are multiple resources available to quit including:
- Quit Line – 1-877-YES-QUIT – The American Cancer Society’s Quit Line offers a comprehensive smoking cessation program, including counselors with extensive training. Self-help printed materials are also available by calling the Quit Line.
- Internet – Visit www.Cancer.org and access the Guide to Quitting Smoking section for useful smoking cessation information.
- Freshstart Smoking Cessation Program – The Freshstart program is the successful American Cancer Society smoking cessation program. It’s designed to help participants stop smoking by providing essential information and strategies needed so that they can direct their own efforts to quit. Contact the Brazosport College Community Education Department at 979-230-3600 for more information.
- Acupuncture – Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical practice using very thin needles of varying lengths placed at specific spots in the skin to treat pain or disease. While there is no definitive data stating that using acupuncture will result in smoking cessation, evidence suggests that it may reduce the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.
- Yoga – While yoga is not a tool directly related to ending addiction to nicotine, it is a proven stress reducer. Smokers cite stress as a top reason for lighting up, and once they decide to quit, nicotine withdrawal can increase stress and irritability.
- Hypnosis – Smoking cessation is one of the most popular medical uses of hypnosis. Hypnosis helps a person learn to deeply relax, be open to suggestions that strengthen resolve to quit, and increase negative feelings toward cigarettes.
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