Cascades E. Transit, Deschutes libraries to go smoke-, vape-free

Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council, including Cascades East Transit, and the Deschutes Public Library will convert to smoke, tobacco and vapor-free campuses in 2016, officials said Monday.

Beginning Jan. 1, visitors to all public libraries in Deschutes County and all COIC properties, including Cascades East Transit facilities and bus stops will promote cleaner air for the general public.

COIC and the Deschutes Public Library said they began working on campus policies with assistance from Deschutes County, Crook and Jefferson County tobacco prevention and education coordinators this summer after receiving comments from the public about a desire for smoke-free properties.

Each organization gauged public opinion by releasing a questionnaire that asked public perception of smoking, vaping and tobacco use and level of support for a smoke, tobacco, and vapor-free campus policy. Both surveys demonstrated strong support for adopting a smoke, tobacco, and vapor free campus policy.

Currently, smoking is not allowed inside the library or COIC buildings or within 20 feet of an open CET vehicle door. The new policy will mean smoking, vaping and tobacco use will be prohibited on all COIC and Deschutes Public Library properties, excluding the Deschutes Public Library Eastside location, which is located in a privately owned shopping center.

Quitting tobacco is a difficult endeavor, they said, but can be done. According to the American Cancer Society, most success comes from utilizing two or more of the following; encouragement and support from friends and family members, telephone smoking-cessation hotlines, stop-smoking groups, online quit groups, counseling, nicotine replacement products, prescription medicine to lessen cravings, and guide books.

Staff members and visitors will receive information on the Oregon Tobacco Quit Hotline – 1 (800) 784-8669 English, 1 (877) 266-3683 Spanish – which provides free assistance and friendly coaching for smoking cessation.

The Deschutes Public Library consists of six branches located in Bend, La Pine, Redmond, Sisters and Sunriver. The Deschutes Public Library district is headquartered in the old Bend Public Library on Wall Street in Bend.

Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council was designated a Council of Governments in 1972 under ORS 190. COIC provides service to the counties of Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson as well as to the cities of Bend, Culver, La Pine, Madras, Metolius, Prineville, Redmond, Sisters and Warm Springs.