BMJ  2004;328:1379-1380 (5 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7452.1379-c

Letter

Effect of public smoking ban in Helena, Montana

Can law really make a difference?

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—In the study by Sargent et al conducted at Helena, Montana, admissions in people with acute myocardial infarction during the smoking ban seem to have fallen, implying the possible effects of smoking on the heart.¹ What is more distressing, however, is that, despite the general awareness of the ill effects of smoking, people petitioned for the ban to be removed within six months. The effect of nicotine was a stronger driving force than the law.

Although the number of admissions fell, several factors should be considered. The first is the number of cases that were actually exposed to smoke both actively and passively in the control and study groups. The second is whether patients with premorbid conditions were comparable in both groups. The third is whether the study numbers are really representative of a much larger population.

The study does offer a ray of hope that if more . . . [Full text of this article]

Kettering General Hospital, Kettering, Northamptonshire NN16 8UZ drssurin@yahoo.com

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