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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0013.116 2002-2004 From: fax To: Faxk9818812 Dale: 6/17/103 Time: 14:24:53 Pays J o18 FROM Kevin Kunz, M. D. FRX N0. 8083291575 Jun. 17 2003 10: 45RM P2 Kevin Kunz M.D., M.P.H., FASAM 75-137 Hualalai Road Kailas-Kona, Hawaii 96740 808-329-1346 Fax 329-1575 June 17, 2003 Mr. James Arakaki, Council Chair Mr. Aaron Chung Mr. Leaigrad Elarionoff Mr. Joe Reynolds Mr. Gary Safarik Ms. Bobby Jean Leithead Dr. Fred Holsehuh Mr. Bob Jacobson Mr. Curtis Tyler Dear Chair and Members, Aloha. I have been a practicing physician in Kona for 22 years. Ten years ago it became apparent that the number one health issue for my patients and their families was the use of both legal and illicit drugs. I subsequently teamed that the three most credtbk medical advisory groups in the Unites Starts had already determined that addiction to both licit sad illicit drugs is the numbs one medical problem not just our state, but in the courttty (reports available from U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, The hrabitute of Medicine, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation). As you have surely already teamed, the medical condition of drug dependence, or addiction, to tobacco products, as weU as alcohol, ice, opiates, and other drugs, kills more people than heart disease or cancer. Ironically, as a culture, we are very uncomfortal3k with this disease of addiction, and so we have labeled the cause of death as emphysema, coramary artery disease, or cancer instead of tobacco poisoning, or drug overdose. In this deception lies your challenge for today as you amend and vote on Bill 260: please stand up to the stigma and ignorance that feed our communities denial of al! of our drug problems, and do not perpetuate the accepted status quo of misery, disability and death which is preventable. Our delicate human biology will respond in predictable ways to drugs without rogard to their legal stems. If we are to promote the wall-being of our residents, their families and ` neighbors, then our determination to keep our citizens safe from tobacoo indrxxd disease must be as strong as our fight against ice and other illicit drugs. Especially, we cannot Comm. 3. I I Ret. To- Rat. Dgte From: Tax Ta: Farp9616912 Da[s: 6/17/103 Time: 14:26:13 Page 4 of 8 FROM Kevin Kunz M. D. FRX N0. 8083291575 Tun. 17 2003 10:45RM P3 Hawalr County Council 3une 17,2003 Page Two give our youth the double message -some deadly drugs are OK, others are not. The fact is, drug free means tobacco free. You have heard the welldocumented scientific and business reasons for supporting this smoking ban. 1've attached materials referencing this, but will get m the point. Remember that Hawaii is the "drug state" number one in the nation for ice. And in Hawaii ?t is well known that Hawaii Island is the ice capital. Let's make the right choice and standup against all hermfiil drugs, legal or illegal. Please make bars and restaurants smoke-free. Please do not condone smoking in a childcare business when children are present. I ask you today to have special vision, courage and concern for your community. Weigh carefully the consequences of passing a diluted bill that will help a few businesses economically. Pass instead a bill that will leave a legacy o£ hope and health far Hawaii. Please do the tight thing, take a stand against drugs. Make Hawaii County the antidrug capital. Thank you. amcerely, Kevin Kunz, M.D., M.P.H-, FASAM Primary Care Physician Board Certified in Preventive Medicine and Pubtic Health Certified in Addiction Medicine by the American Society of Addiction Medicine Fram: fax To: Faxtl9618912 Dale: 6/171797 Time: 14:27:95 Page 5 of 8 FROM Kevin Kunz, M. D. FRX N0. 8083291575 Sun. 17 2003 10:46RM P4 Kevin Kunz, M.D.,M.P.H., FASAM 75-137 Hualahti Road Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 329-1346 Fax 329-1575 June 16,2003 :,cat Council Members, Aloha. Brug Free Mesns Tobacco Free There are many reasons to ban tobacco in public places, but 1 believe that the following are the top tea For the benefit of our children, lets state clearly: "drug free mcaes tobacco free". 10. Freedom to smoke cannot be freedom to harm. The Freedom-to-Smoke tobacco lobby was conceived and financed by the tobacco ineiustry. Except for tobacco growing states, this atgummt is now generally accepted as bogus, dishottGSt, and self- serving. We all share the right to seek health, happiness and freedom. 9. Environmtmtally safe alternatives exist. Environme~lly acceptable forms of tobaexo and nicotine are available. For smokers who are addicted, there are many alternative forms of nicotine, which are hattnless to others. These include snuff, pinch, chew, niwdne gum, nicotine patches, nicotine inhalers, and aiootine nasal spray. Tobacco in small, clean oral pouches is now available to place by the gums. These prodttcLs give the needed nicotine fix. The cost is similar to cigarettes. Marty nicotine-addicted persons already use thest products when flying. Alternative nicotine drug delivery systems do not expense others to the toxic anal earcinog~enic risk of tobacco smoke. 8. Oahu and Maui are showing us the way. The smoking ban on these islands was passed after public, open debate- The acceptance of a smokeless policy is widespread, and there is no reason m think the Big Ishmd will be unique. 7 Smokers are taxed and treated unfairly.. Hawaii has one of the highest tobacco taxes in the country, and it is scheduled to increase. And the Master Tobacco Settlement Fund £or Hawaii-51.38 billion -has minimal contributions to spend on smokers' addiction (only 12.5% over 25 years). It is trove -smokers won't be getting their fair share of tobacco tax or settlcmerd moray. If we can help them quit by limiting their smoking opportunities, they too will be better off financially. From:/ax To: Faz#98189~2 Dale: 6/77H D3 Time: 74:28:72 Paga6 o/8 FROM Ke~tn Kunz, M. D. FRk N0. : 8083291575 Jun. 17 2003 10:46RM PS COLLnty COU[1C11 June 16, 2003 Page Two 6. beomsday economic predictions have not materialized. Jurisdictions that have mandated smoke-free public places have not had the economic downturn that the pro- smoke lobby predicted, and the overall economic advantages have been positive. On the Big Island, the first smoke-frce restauram was Bianelli's, 13 years ago. Tb~ey didn't lose business, and in thct have tripled therr seating! (Yes, I do know that the food is great, the service impeccable and the tnanagement akamaiJ 5. Employee and patron health. Non-smokers who are exposed to cigarette smoke have higher rates of abnormal lung function, respiratory infections, heart disease, cad lung cancer than their comtetpatts who work m tnlmcco fire envimnmeMs. There is no justification for rxm-smoking employees or patrons to suffer damage to their health white they are at work, or in a public place. d. Public pressure helps smokers quit. Despite all ofthe scientific facts regarding tobacco disease and death, the general knowledge that even smokers have about tobaceo's harm, and even though 70% of smokers want to quit whoa asked, knowledge and desire have proven inadequate in curtailing the American tobacco epidemic. Believe it or not, the most successfid element in the campaign to reduce tobacco consumption in the United States has been the `won-smokers rights" movement By insisting on smoke-free environments for everyone, tobacco-free advocates are enhancing the chances for better health and longevity for smokers especially. 3. Addiction is a disease. !t is a brain disease. Why mess with your brain? Why use a drug that will change your brain, which is where you think and feel, cot just when you use it, but for a long time? The hallmarks of addiction are denial (I smoke because I like the taste, I can quit anytime}, lack of comrol over drug use (...can't stop even for a short time in a restaurant?) continrted use despite consequences (50% of smokers with lung cancer keep smoking after surgery?), and the compulsion to use the drug against your will and best itrtentians. Tobacco is the crack cocaine form of rucotitu. People that smoke tobacco become quickly and severely addicted to nicotine. They are not bad people, just addicted They treed help. 2. Succossfu! gait therapies are available. Ninety percent of ex-smokers have quit without any professional help, support groups, or nicotine replacemem systetns. Most of them tried multiple times before quitting for good So don't give up. But for the hard-cone nicotine addict, many effective therapies are available. In addition to nicotine repkacement products like nicotine gum and patches, you caa From: tax To: Fax7t9618912 Dale: 6/17/10) Time: 1d:29:70 Pags 7 of 8 FROM Kevin Kunz, M. D. FAX N0. 8083291575 Jun. 17 2003 10:47RM P6 Counly COUtlCtl June 16, 2003 Page Three easily receive prescription nicotine products and medications from yow doctor. There are also cessation support groups, most of which are free. Finally, some of that settlemmrt money from Big Tobacco is fitnding a program on the Big Island W help you quit, and those services are free (call locally 647-QUIT). 1. Drug free means tobacco free. If we want our young people to learn that their hues will be better without a~'lictive drugs, we have to let them Imow we mean 1!~ addictive drugs. We have to be honest. No double messages. Legal drugs are not necessarily less harmful than illicit drugs. In fact, some are much worse. And especially for ow teens, tobacco is the gateway drug. Most experts agree that drug dependence is a childhood disease -almost all people with a drug problem started in adolescence, with tobacco. Our message as a community has to be clean we oppose the use of all dangerous drugs, and that includes all tobacco products. Let's get this tobacco issue settled; we have the ice epidemic to fight. Thank you for attention to these issues. Sincerely, _J G/~`',` I{evin TCunz, MD., ASAM Fram: fax To: Fax#9618912 Date: 6!17/103 Time: 14:70:20 Page 8 of 8 FROM Kevin Kunz, M. D. FRX N0. 8083291575 Jun. 17 2003 10:47RM P7 r, Coalition for a Tobac.;r, Free Hawal`i Reasons to Make Businesses Smoke-Free • Smoke-free policies do not adversely affect business, and sometimes boost it, zas N, xuku, s/.e~r, sure z°r accordin to studies that use sales tax data and sound research methods. Honolulu, Hr 76817 g T 1 (808) <32-911 f Fa: rx°s~ sz+.vo7z Most smokers accept smoke-free policies and 70% want to quit smoking (National wvw_robuteoyeeMwm,_arg ~'anCRr lnstltute). • Furniture lasts Longer and burn holes are avoided in tablecloths, carpets, or cloth coverings. • Repainting ceilings, walls, and replacing window coverings yellowed by tobacco smoke is eliminated. Smoking in the workplace damages property and increases cleaning costs. A survey of 2,000 workplaces found that 23.3% of those with smoking restrictions reported a reduction in maintenance costs. (Swart, "An Overlooked Cost of Employee Smoking" Personnel, August 1990.) • Ashtrays never have to bought or cleaned again. • Eliminates complaints about drifting smoke. Smoking causes a great deal of i discomfort in the workplace. 59.2% of nonsmoking employees report suffering discomfort, and even 15% of smoking employees report Some degree of discomfort from secondhand smoke. (CDC, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, May 22, 1992.) • People with asthma, allergies, and other respiratory problems -including seniors - will become more loyal patrons. • Less sick leave caused by exposure to secondhand smoke. • Reduced insurance costs. Many insurance companies will offer lower rates for smoke-free businesses because of healthier employees and reduced fire risk. The National Fire Protection Association found that in 1998 (the most recent year for which data is available) smoking materials caused 8,700 foes innon-residential structures resulting in l7 deaths, 163 injuries, and a direct property damage of $60.5 million. ([{all, Jr., J.R., "The U.S. Smoking-Material Fire Problem," National Fire Protection Association, Fire Analysis and Research Division, Apri12001.) ii • More productive workers. Workers msmoke-free businesses take fewer smoke breaks. Secondhand smoke harms the health and reduces the productivity of nonsmokers, costing employers money. Estimated costs associated with secondhand i smoke's effects on nonsmokers range from $56 to $490 per smoker per year. (I4istein, "How Much Can Business Expect to Profit From Smoking Cessation?" l'1eventive Medicine, 1983;12358-381; Jackson & Holle, "Smoking: Perspectives 1985" Primary Care, ]985; 12:197-216.) From: tar To: Fax#g61 $912 Date: 6/17/1 DJ Time: 14:12:25 Page 1 0/1 FROM Kevin Kunz, M. D. FRX N0. 8083291575 Jun. 17 2003 10:52RM P1 CwlitS•a for a Toba«o Pree • Healthier workers. By removing secondhand smoke from the workplace, many HaWai`i employees' health vtnll improve. Additionally, smokers will smoke fewer cigarettes helping to improve their health. • Reduced liability. As a business owner, if you subject your employees to dangerous situations, you maybe liable if they develop diseases or injuries. By removing smoking, you are not exposing your employees to a hazardous situation. Workers exposed to secondhand smoke on the job are 34% more likely to get lung cancer. (Fontham, et al. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomazkers and Prevention,1991; 135: 35-43.) • In 2002, the Intemationa! Labor Organization (1L0) reported that cancer was the largest killer in the workplace, accounting for approximately 640,000 workplace-related deaths per yeaz globally. ILO stated that secondhand smoke in the workplace i s estimated to cause 2.8 percent of all workplace cancer. (Reuters, May 24, 2002.) • Employees support smoke-free policies. In 2000, [he proportion who thought that smoking should. not be allowed at all in indoor work areas ranged from 66.4% in Wisconsin to 83.8% in DC. (CDC, "State-specific prevalence of current cigarette smoking among adults, and policies and attitudes about secondhand smoke: United States, 2000," Morbidity and Mortahty Weekly Report 50(49): 1101-1106, December ] 4, 2001.) • A survey of businesses conducted by the Building Owners and Management Association (BOMA) International formd that the elimination of smoking from a building reduced cleaning expenses by an average of 10%. (Gazland, W.S., BOMA Supports Smoking Ban in Buildings, http://www.boma.org/comartlelcomsmoke,htm, [n.d.].) 0 i7 ca z ~7 z ~ tT1 -f ~ v S;T 3 > rv G w