The Drexel University School of Public Health congratulates the efforts of SmokeFree Philly, and urges all to learn more about the city’s recent prohibition of smoking in public places and other ways to help fight the tobacco epidemic by visiting www.SmokeFreePhilly.org.
"Smoking and tobacco-use have an impact on the health and quality of life of everyone," said SPH Dean Marla J Gold. "As the only school of public health in the Greater Philadelphia Region, we applaud the actions to make our city smoke-free. This is one step forward in addressing the tobacco epidemic, and those who live, work and go to school in Philadelphia can now 'breathe free.'"
The SmokeFree Philly Web site also provides important information on how to quit smoking and how family and friends can support loved ones who are trying to quit.
Drexel University’s office of Government and Community Relations is a SmokeFree Philly provider, conducting gender-specific stop smoking programs on a regular basis. For more information please call 215-762-8120.
This is not the first time the Drexel School of Public Health has encouraged a smoke-free city. Last April, SPH supported the Smoke Free Philadelphia program during National Public Health Week. Students from the School held a rally at Rittenhouse Square Park in Philadelphia and persuaded area-restaurant owners to participate in the event by providing a smoke-free environment for one day during the course of National Public Health Week. The rally featured public health professionals from SPH, participating restaurant owners, and the American Cancer Society.
SPH Students, April 3, 2006, "take it outside" for a Smoke-Free Philadelphia
SmokeFree Philly is a program of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health that coordinates tobacco cessation and chronic disease prevention programs, raises community and public awareness through counter-marketing initiatives, and promotes and monitors the restriction of youth access to tobacco products.