From left, Canton Housing Authority Community Engagement Coordinator Chelsea Bartlett, Canton Housing Authority Executive Director Cynthia Moore, and Advancing Tobacco-Free Communities Program Assistant Elizabeth Billings

Despite St. Lawrence County having one of the highest smoking rates in the state, a local anti-smoking organization reports that in the past year more and more businesses, municipalities, housing complexes and recreation areas are going tobacco free.

Advancing Tobacco-Free Communities, part of the Seaway Valley Prevention Council, said in a press release that policies aimed at eliminating tobacco use reduce exposure to second-hand smoke, “denormalize” tobacco use in society, and protect youth and other susceptible populations.

This year in St. Lawrence County, Advancing Tobacco-Free Communities has persuaded four media outlets to sign policies restricting tobacco and e-cigarette advertising, five parks and recreation areas to ban tobacco use, and six housing complexes to sign smoke-free housing policies. Several businesses have also signed policies that eliminate tobacco use on their property.

Most recently, they note, the Canton Housing Authority has committed to the health and safety of their residents by going “smoke-free,” in spite of protests by smokers in the buildings.