Calling on Aliso Viejo to take stand against smoking hazards

Last week the city of Aliso Viejo missed a great opportunity to protect its residents from the dangerous effects of secondhand smoke by voting against the passage of smoke-free legislation.

The health risks from indirect, secondhand smoke are clear and there is no denying that it kills. In fact, according to the American Heart Association, about 40,000 people die each year from heart and blood vessel disease caused by other people’s smoke.

On the other hand, data from 17 studies in North America, Europe, and Australia indicate that smoke-free legislation can reduce heart disease by 10%.

For the health of our community, I ask Aliso Viejo’s ad-hoc subcommittee on tobacco use to approve a comprehensive smoke-free ordinance that would ban cigarette and e-cigarette smoking in outdoor dining areas, business entryways and multi-unit housing.  

Douglas Harrington
Clinical Professor, Keck School of Medicine, USC
Volunteer, American Heart Association