What You Can Do

Start with the understanding that smoking is not just a habit. Most often, it is an addiction that's very difficult to beat. So, smokers need your help and understanding. In fact, you may find that most smokers respect the right of others to live smoke-free.

On this Page:

• Steps you can take
• Know Your Rights
• Related Resources

Steps you can take

• First, get the smoke outside.
  Ensure that smokers understand that you and others have the right to breathe clean air indoors. Designate your home a smoke-free zone and politely ask guests to smoke outside.
   
• Second, spread the word.
  In a constructive and informed manner, discuss health issues related to second-hand smoke and smoking. Send an e-mail to kick-start positive discussion.
   
• Third, support or organize local campaigns for smoke-free environments. This includes workplaces as well as public environments like restaurants, bars, and shopping malls. Contact your municipality's health office or your elected representative. See also Smoke-free Spaces Activist Toolkit.

Know Your Rights

Strategies for living smoke-free

• If you live with a smoker, be supportive of their efforts to quit while being firm about your own right to live in a smoke-free home.
• Ask a smoker to smoke outside but agree to sit outside or go for a walk with him or her to show you're not rejecting the smoker, just the smoke.
• Enlist a doctor's help. Encouragement from a doctor trained in helping smokers quit doubles the success rate.

Related Resources

• Quit Smoking
• Smoke-Free Spaces Activist Toolkit
• Workplace Toolkit