Creating a Tobacco-free

Campus

College is about…

Learning

Life

Leadership

Our campus is committed to building future leaders.

Future Leaders

Developing, promoting and supporting a tobacco-free campus is one way to engage students to lead their peers.

Healthy leaders are role models and powerful influences for others.

National Data

• 20% of young adults (18 - 24) smoke(National Health Interview Survey 2010)

• Use is more prevalent with: – People below poverty level– Military service members– People with mental illness– American Indian / Alaska Native populations– People identifying as LGBT(CDC)

• Decline of smoking has slowed = tobacco will continue to be an issue

[Your Data]

[You may want to add recent data on tobacco use on your campus.]

Policy is an effective, cost efficient way to decrease numbers of tobacco users, thus increasing life, longevity and vitality.

Most tobacco users want to quit.Tobacco-free environments help them be successful.

A Look Back…1996Opposition prior to smoke-free residence halls:

"People are going to (smoke) anyway… People would still do it (in the rooms).”

"It's a good theory, but it's unenforceable…I think it will be gone in two years.”

-Penn State Student Newspaper article, January 1996

Reality: It has now been 17 years and counting.

Remember When…

Smoking was allowed on airplanes and in supermarkets?

People believed that “non-smoking” sections in restaurants were free of smoke?

Policies soon become the social norm.

Why Tobacco-Free Policy?

Respect for Health

Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death.

Secondhand smoke is carcinogenic. Tobacco-free policies respect the health of

all, including tobacco users. Policies protect the health of those with

asthma, respiratory ailments, heart conditions. It’s fundamental. All people have

a right to breathe clean air.

Promoting Well-Being

While the campus is focused on education, it is also committed to ensuring the health and well-being of all who interact with the campus environment.

Benefits of a Tobacco-Free Campus

It’s Healthy

Ensures a safe & healthy environment

Applies academic knowledge (tobacco is unhealthy) to community practice (policy supports good health)

Supports the campus mission to promote well-being

It’s Economical

Tobacco-free policy can potentially…

Lower health care costs

Reduce the incidence of fire damage

Reduce physical repairs and maintenance

It’s “Green”

A campus of 10,000 students can produce over 1.5 tons of cigarette butt waste per year

Also consider the waste produced by spit tobacco

Maintenance staff are overburdened by this unnecessary waste

It’s the Right Step

Tobacco-free policies are being adopted all over the world

The momentum is happening now

There are currently over 750 tobacco-free colleges and universities in the U.S.

Most people do not use tobacco, and most who do would like to quit (typically 75%)

A Few Examples

Arizona State University

Maricopa Community College District (AZ)

University of North Dakota

Minnesota State University— Moorhead

Oklahoma State University

Creighton University (NE)

Portland Community College (OR)

All are tobacco free

The Research

Environmental strategies are effective for reducing harm and helping people quit

Policy Health & social marketing campaigns Product pricing / tobacco taxes

Policy is a critical component of any strategic plan that addresses health behaviors.

We Tobacco Users

Tobacco-free policy is not anti-user It is pro-health We understand that tobacco is an addiction We genuinely want to help Tobacco-free policy does not force tobacco

users to quit. If they want to, we will do whatever we can to help.

Campus Resources

Implementation of campus tobacco policy must include providing support to tobacco users.

Campus health center (if available) QuitLine (1-800-QUIT NOW) Local / county resources CO Quit Mobile (text message-based) Employee health insurance plans Free / discounted nicotine replacement

therapy (NRT)

CommonQuestions

Common Questions

Why should we be concerned with tobacco policy for young adults?

Young adults are disproportionately affected by tobacco.

The industry counts on addicting this age group to secure future sales.

“Younger adult smokers have been the critical factor in the growth and decline of every major brand and company in the last 50 years…” -RJ Reynolds document

Comprehensive policies reduce initiation and use.

Common QuestionsDo tobacco-free policies really affect quit rates?

A 2000 Surgeon General’s Report found such laws decrease daily consumption and increase cessation rates.

Philip Morris memo: “Smokers facing (workplace restrictions) consume 11–15% less than average and quit 84% higher than average.”

Common QuestionsWhy should we worry about smokeless tobacco?

There is no safe tobacco product.

Industry is developing new products to continue nicotine addiction and create dual-addiction.

Use in the classroom can be a distraction from learning.

Inconsistent health message: Not caring about the health of all.

Clean-up of toxic spit tobacco may be hazardous and more time-consuming for custodial staff.

Common Questions

What about smoking shelters? Isn’t that a good compromise?

A gathering of smokers alters the perception of what is the campus norm.

Shelters and their maintenance are expensive and do not protect people from secondhand smoke.

Extra time and resources are spent on cleaning and maintenance of shelters.

Conveys a message that smokers are not important. And, they are subjected to more secondhand smoke.

Common QuestionsSecondhand smoke outside is not a problem. Right?

“There is no safe level of secondhand smoke exposure.” Surgeon General (2006)

Children, pregnant women, people with heart conditions, respiratory ailments, and asthma are especially susceptible to smoke.

Common Questions

What are we really gaining? Tobacco-free policies ultimately save

time, money and years of human life.

As health providers incur more costs for treating chronic disease, insurance rates rise.

The strength of a college/university is its people. A healthy environment advances this.

What’s Next?

[Add info on your next steps]

Questions?Campus Contacts

• [Name, title, dept, email, phone]

• [Name, title, dept, email, phone]

www.tobaccofreeU.org