Fact Sheet for Smoke-Free College
Campuses
Among all smokers, the prevalence by age is highest among college-age
people (ages 18-24). The annual prevalence of tobacco use among all
smokers since 1990 has remained virtually unchanged, meaning that
other age groups are decreasing tobacco use while college students
are smoking at a greater rate.
American Cancer Society, 2005
Nearly 27.9% of North Carolina 18-24 year olds smoke, 57.7% of whom
have tried to quit in the last year.
CDC Behavioral Risk Factor
Surveillance System, 2003
At current rates,
an estimated 1 out of 9 of today’s college
students will die of tobacco-related illness.
Halperin, 2002
College students who live in smoke-free dorms are 40% less likely
to be smokers than their counterparts who live in unrestricted housing.
Amer J Prev Med, 2001
Elimination of smoking on college campuses is associated with lowered
levels of smoking among current smokers.
Contemp Econ Pol, 2001 |
The American College Health Association (ACHA) recommends
the following steps be taken to address policy, prevention, and cessation
as it pertains to tobacco issues:
- Develop a strongly
worded tobacco policy that reflects the best practices in
tobacco prevention, cessation, and control.
- Inform all members
of the campus community by widely distributing the campus
tobacco policy on an annual basis.
- Offer and promote
prevention and education initiatives that actively support
non-use and address the risks of all forms of tobacco use.
- Offer and promote
programs and services that include practical, evidence-based
approaches to end tobacco use.
- Prohibit the campus-controlled
advertising, sale, or free sampling of tobacco products on
campus or in campus-controlled situations, properties, and
environments.
- Prohibit the sponsorship
of campus events by tobacco-promoting organizations.
- Prohibit
tobacco use in all public areas of the campus, including
but not limited to:
a. Classrooms, lecture halls, auditoriums, laboratories
b. Museums, libraries, gymnasiums, stadiums/coliseums
c. Building entrances, waiting areas, halls, restrooms, elevators,
stairs
d. Health facilities, counseling centers, child care centers
e. Buses, vans, all other campus vehicles
f. Within 20 feet of all campus buildings
g. Meeting rooms, private offices
h. Dining facilities
- Prohibit tobacco
use in all residence halls, dormitory facilities, and other
campus-owned, affiliated, and sanctioned housing, including
but not limited to: lounges, hallways, stairwells, elevators,
restrooms, laundry rooms, and shared and private rooms.
- Clearly
identify all tobacco-free areas with signs.
- Prohibit the use
of smokeless/spit tobacco in all facilities.
- Support and provide
a process for frequent and consistent enforcement of all
tobacco-related policies, rules, and regulations.
For more information
on the ACHA’s position on tobacco:
http://www.acha.org/info_resources/tobacco_statement.pdf
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Potential Partners
Administrators
Students
Student Health Service
Medical, Dental, and Nursing Schools
Hospitals
Administrators of other smoke-free college campuses
Local Health Departments
Career Services
Resident Housing & Greek Life
Implementing and Evaluating the Policy
Were
students, faculty, and employees involved as coalition partners
in producing the policy change?
In what ways
were we successful, and in what ways could the strategy improve?
Were conflicts anticipated and handled appropriately? |
Steps for Success
- Determine
the avenue for decision-making at the college, and the opinion
of those making the decisions.
- Determine the role
of the faculty and student senates in decision-making.
- Conduct
a policy report card assessment.
- Prepare fact sheets
on secondhand smoke and smoking on college campuses.
- Keep the
discussion focused always on public health protection and the
right to breathe smoke-free air.
- Meet with those in
decision-making capacity and determine their readiness to change
the policy.
- Demonstrate campus
support from students, faculty, and staff to convince administrators
that the policy is wanted and needed.
- Ensure that the administrators
are aware of how the Americans with Disabilities Act and secondhand
smoke exposure may apply to students, visitors, or employees
of the University. Personal letters with anecdotes of problems
with the current smoking policy are best.
- Provide a list of
major colleges in the region or country that have model smoke-free
policies.
- Develop plans for
using media advocacy, including student newspapers, to affect
the policy change, and have a plan to react to any conflicts
(industry, smoking employees.)
Strategic Assessment
- Where is smoking
allowed on campus?
- Are tobacco products
sold or advertised on campus?
- What kinds of problems
have arisen from the current policy?
- Have fires occurred
because of smoking in student dorms?
- What measures exist
to protect students from unwanted exposure to ETS?
- What kind
of coalition can come together to support a policy change?
- Who will oppose the
policy change and how can you turn opposition into support?
- Are
cessation services available and publicized?
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