Tobacco-Free College Campuses

A banner for a smoke-free campus

Tobacco-Free College Campuses refers to colleges and universities that have implemented policies prohibiting the use of tobacco products at all indoor and outdoor campus locations. In addition, many colleges have chosen to restrict the use of electronic smoking devices, such as e-cigarettes. As of July 1, 2018 there were at least 2,212 100% smoke-free campuses in the United States. Of these, 1,853 were 100% tobacco-free and 1,790 also prohibited the use of e-cigarettes anywhere on campus.[1]

The policies are part of the tobacco control movement to reduce cigarette smoking among college students and to protect people on campus from second-hand smoke.[2] A 2005 study found that other forms of intervention to decrease the rates of tobacco use on campus, such as restriction of tobacco distribution and restriction of smoking within 20 feet of entrances were not as effective as smoking cessation programs in decreasing college students' smoking.[3] When prevention-oriented education was present on college campuses, students were 23% less likely to smoke compared to their peers who were not exposed to this kind of education.[3][4]

Discarded cigarette butts are a major source of non-biodegradable waste on college campuses.[5] It is estimated that 1.69 billion pounds of butts wind up as waste worldwide per year.[6]

Tobacco-Free College Campuses in California

California Youth Academy Network (CYAN) and Campuses Organized and United for Good Health (COUGH) publishes an annual California College and University Smoke/Tobacco-Free Policy Report Card.

University of California (UC) All of the California's University of California (UC) campuses went tobacco free on January 1, 2004. The University of California system states their reason for going 100% tobacco free as "While the use of tobacco is a personal choice, the health hazards related to smoking and exposure to second- and third-hand smoke are well-documented. These hazards can affect not only the smoker, but also the nonsmoker who is exposed to the smoke.As a leader in health care and environmental practices, the university recognizes its responsibility to exercise leadership through the creation of a smoke and tobacco-free environment for all students, employees and visitors at all UC campuses, medical centers and facilities."[7]

California State Universities (CSU) In 2016, Governor Jerry Brown vetoed legislation that would have banned smoking on all California State University (CSU) campuses because he believed that these campuses could make their own individual policies. In April 2017, the CSU Chancellor's office issued an executive order making all CSU campuses smoke and tobacco free. The California State University system states that they agree with the UC system on their rationale for the 100% tobacco free campuses, "The University of California recently announced that it would adopt a smoke-free policy. All of the reasons cited apply to the CSU as well.The health hazards of using tobacco products are widely known. According to the Centers for Disease Control (see https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fast_facts/) tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death and is responsible for 443,000 deaths per year in the United States (with an estimated 49,000 deaths annually due to second-hand smoke exposure). Cigarette smoking alone costs the United States more than $193 billion (i.e., $97 billion in lost productivity plus $96 billion in health care expenditures)."[8]

California Community Colleges In May 2018, the Board of Governors voted to make all California Community Colleges tobacco free. A number of California Community Colleges had already made this policy change on their campus or had been working toward the goal of a 100% smoke and tobacco free policy. The rationale of the Board of Governors to pass this included reasons such as: tobacco is responsible for about 1 in 5 deaths, there is no safe level of second hand smoke, and smoking on campus can lead to second hand smoke entering buildings via open doors or windows and exposure when walking by a smoker.[9]

References

  1. ↑ Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights. "Smokefree and Tobacco-Free U.S. and Tribal Colleges and Universities". Accessed July 25, 2018.
  2. ↑ Jullian, Maite. "More colleges stamp out smoking", USA Today, October 13, 2008
  3. 1 2 Borders, Tyrone F., K. Tom Xu, Donna Bacchi, Lee Cohen and Danielle SoRelle-Miner. "College campus smoking policies and programs and students' smoking behaviors", BMC Public Health, 2005, accessed September 22, 2016
  4. ↑ Martinelli, A. M. "An Explanatory Model of Variables Influencing Health Promotion Behaviors in Smoking and Nonsmoking College Students", Public Health Nursing (1999), 16 (4), pp. 263-269
  5. ↑ Novotny, Lum, Smith, Wang and Barnes. "Cigarettes Butts and the Case for an Environmental Policy on Hazardous Cigarette Waste" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2009)
  6. ↑ Carlozo LR. "Cigarettes: 1.7 billion pounds of trash." Chicago Tribune (2008) Accessed July 25, 2017.
  7. ↑ "UC Smoke & Tobacco Free Policy | UCOP". www.ucop.edu. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  8. ↑ "3102". www.calstate.edu. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  9. ↑ "Smoke Free & Tobacco Free California Community Colleges Resolution" (PDF).


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