title: Tobacco policy in American prisons, 2007.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine current tobacco policy in US prisons and explore changes in prison tobacco policies over time.
  
  
  METHODS
  Telephone survey of the 52 US departments of correction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Current tobacco policy; distribution of free tobacco; availability of smoking cessation programming and cessation aids.
  
  
  METHODS
  Complete responses were received from 51 of 52 (98%) departments, while one provided partial information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of correctional systems (60%) reported total tobacco bans on prison grounds, with most remaining facilities (27%) having an indoor ban on tobacco use. No prisons distributed free tobacco. No major violence was reported relating to the implementation of stricter tobacco policies; however many respondents noted that tobacco became a major contraband item following the implementation of a total ban. While most prison systems with an indoor tobacco ban (86%) reported having tobacco cessation programmes, few of those with total bans (39%) continued such programmes after the initial transition period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Total tobacco bans have often been accompanied by the termination of tobacco cessation programmes. Such actions undermine efforts to promote long-term cessation resulting in a missed public health opportunity.
authors.affiliation: The Ohio State University College of Public Health, M-006 Starling-Loving Hall, 320 West 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. kauffman.57@osu.edu
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Kauffman
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Ferketich
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Wewers
mesh_terms: D006291:Health Policy / Q000639:trends; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D011330:Prisons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D014481:United States