The NIH Tobacco-Free Policy went into effect on October
1, 2008. This Policy prohibits the use of all tobacco products (cigarettes,
cigars, pipes, smokeless tobacco, e-cigarettes, etc.) while on the NIH Bethesda
campus. This includes the use of these products while in a personal vehicle
located on the campus. It is the responsibility of every employee, contractor,
guest and visitor to follow this Policy.*
Recently, my office has received numerous complaints that
tobacco use on the campus is continuing. Witnesses have noticed individuals
smoking, and there is a large number of cigarette butts and debris around
loading docks and various entrances near Building 10. To address this,
surveillance and monitoring will begin to help identify individuals found to be
using a tobacco product. Employees in violation of the Policy will be reported
to their supervisor and are subject to administrative action. Contractors will
be reported to their supervisor at their contracting organization for
appropriate action. Managers and supervisors are responsible for assuring that
their employees abide by the Tobacco-Free Policy.
The NIH encourages and supports employees who would like
assistance in eliminating their dependence on tobacco products. All NIH
employees, including contractors, have access to the following resources, which
provides support with attempts to become and remain tobacco free:
- Smokefree.gov --
http://www.smokefree.gov/: the
information and professional assistance on this site can help you prepare to
quit, assist during quitting, and remain a nonsmoker.
- Smokefree Women
-- http://women.smokefree.gov/: this
site specifically focuses on helping women to quit smoking.
- National Network
of Quit Lines -- provides live telephone support and resources and is available
at 1-800-QUIT-NOW, TTY 1-800-332-8615.
NIH federal employees also have access to:
- The NIH and the
Federal Occupational Health (FOH) provide free tobacco cessation treatment
services. Interested federal employees should complete the enrollment form
located at: http://tobaccofree.nih.gov/cessation_enroll.doc.
- Federal employee
insurance plans are required to offer tobacco cessation benefits, which include
medications and counseling sessions. Contact your health insurance company for
details.
The NIH is the Nation’s steward in medical research. To
protect everyone who works or visits the NIH Bethesda campus, it is imperative
that we work together to keep the NIH tobacco free by "Taking Our Own
Advice."
* The NIH will continue to honor current Collective
Bargaining Agreements (Union) containing provisions that address smoking and
tobacco use, and will implement this Policy consistent with the Agreements and
its obligations under law, rule or regulation.
Alfred C. Johnson, Ph.D.
Director, Office of Research Services