No smoking policy now in place at all Oklahoma prisons

Oklahoma prisoners and prison staff are no longer able to smoke or use any tobacco product on prison grounds and that could save you tax dollars. <br/><br/>At the state prison in Lexington Monday, inmates

Tuesday, February 15th 2005, 3:15 pm

By: News On 6

Oklahoma prisoners and prison staff are no longer able to smoke or use any tobacco product on prison grounds and that could save you tax dollars.

At the state prison in Lexington Monday, inmates and staff alike were getting their last smokes in. That's because as of today, all tobacco products will be considered contraband on prison grounds.

Officials hope the policy will improve inmate health, lower medical costs, and should reduce the problem of inmates smuggling drugs into prison. The policy was first announced last fall, so people have had a chance to prepare for it through smoking cessation classes and nicotine patches.

Officials believe the new policy could eventually save taxpayers about a million dollars a year in medical costs.