Heart attacks down 21 percent in the first year after the North Carolina smokefree restaurant and bar law took effect

The evidence that strong smokefree laws provide large and immediate health benefits just keeps piling up.

The latest study, released today, found a 21 percent drop in emergency room admission for heart attacks during the first year of the law, saving an estimated $3.4 to $4.3 million in heath care costs.  This is serious money, particularly as both government and the private sector struggle to keep health costs down.

These real documented and rapid benefits not just in terms of health, but the economy, show that the economic argument on smokefree policies has clearly shifted away from the tobacco industry and its allies to the health side.

The NC Department of Health press release is available at http://www.ncdhhs.gov/pressrel/2011/2011-11-09_heart_attack_down.htm  and the actual study is at http://tobaccopreventionandcontrol.ncdhhs.gov/smokefreenc/docs/TPCB-2011SFNCReport-SHD.pdf .

(Our report on North Carolina, which shows how health advocates won this important victory in a major tobacco growing state is at http://escholarship.org/uc/item/7kc398r4. )