Prisons prepare for tobacco ban

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Friday is the last day prison inmates in Oklahoma can buy cigarettes before tobacco is banned in all state prisons. <br/><br/>Prison officials say inmates may either be stockpiling

Friday, December 31st 2004, 1:46 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Friday is the last day prison inmates in Oklahoma can buy cigarettes before tobacco is banned in all state prisons.

Prison officials say inmates may either be stockpiling smokes or planning to quit before the ban takes effect on February 15th.

The goal of the new ban is to reduce medical costs. Officials say half of the department's medical budget is spent on illnesses related to smoking.

Corrections spokesman Jerry Massie says most prisoners have been calm about the ban.

Cessation classes and products are being made available to both inmates and staff at the state prisons