Smoke free policies in Europe. An overview

This article is an overview of the current status of implementation of smoke free legislation in Europe and particularly in Romania. It overviews mostly how these laws are put to work. Comments are made on the scientific evidence of the harm induced by second-hand smoking, well known cause of lung cancer, cardiac disease, low birth weight and chronic respiratory diseases like bronchitis and asthma, especially in children. In the countries where the smoke free legislation was successfully implemented (Ireland, Italy, Scotland) there is evidence of reduced prevalence of the smoking induced diseases, especially acute coronary attacks. The article emphasizes on the major role of healthcare professionals in reducing the smoking level, but also on the involvement of politicians, especially the newly elected Romanians in the European political organisms.