About smoke-free and vape-free homes
Smoke-free and vape-free housing allows everyone to breathe cleaner air within multi-unit housing. It is where smoking and vaping are not allowed inside, including single-family homes and multi-unit buildings.
Commercial tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 harmful chemicals have been identified in secondhand tobacco smoke. At least 70 of these chemicals are known to cause cancer, including arsenic, benzene, beryllium, chromium, and formaldehyde.
Secondhand Smoke (SHS) can seep into attached units through cracks, light fixtures, and heating and cooling systems. Smoke-free and vape-free housing eliminates the chance of toxic smoke traveling from one unit to another. Up to 65% of the air in an apartment can come from other units in the building, including common areas.
There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke; even brief exposure can cause serious health problems. Secondhand smoke can cause coronary heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer in adults who do not smoke. Because their bodies are still growing, infants and young children are especially impacted by health problems caused by secondhand smoke. Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), acute respiratory infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis, middle ear disease, more frequent and severe asthma, respiratory symptoms, and slowed lung growth.
Smoke-free and vape-free housing reduces the risk of heart attacks, heart and lung disease, cancer, and respiratory illness due to exposure to secondhand smoke. It also frees your apartment from thirdhand smoke, the cancer-causing toxins that remain on fabrics, walls, furniture, and carpets after tobacco smoke has dissipated.
Smoke-Free at Home NM advocates for smoke-free and vape-free living in multi-unit housing throughout New Mexico. We contact property owners and managers directly and connect them with resources for smoke-free and vape-free property protections. We support the process by educating residents of New Mexico through workshops, training, and social media campaigns; we are raising awareness of the importance and benefits of smoke-free and vape-free living.
Living in a smoke-free and vape-free environment is one of the best decisions you can make for yourself and your loved ones.
Fill out the form below for more information on how you can live smoke-free and vape-free.
Is your apartment or rental property smoke-free and vape-free? Fill out the anonymous form below to let us know. If you need assistance in discussing this with your landlord, property owner, or manager, we’re here to help.
(Responses for this survey are in no way linked to the contact information provided previously)