TOBACCO-FREE COLLEGES
The main reason to have tobacco-free (TF) colleges is to prevent a new generation of lifetime smokers, of which an estimated one million will die from tobacco-related diseases. The age cohort of college students, 18-25, is the one at highest risk of becoming lifelong smokers. Ninety percent of smokers began smoking by the time they were 18 years old and 99% started smoking by the time they were 26. Other benefits of TF campuses include:
- Create an environment that helps students, staff and faculty to stop using tobacco or never start
- Reduce exposure to secondhand smoke, for which there is no safe level of exposure, and potential liability to the college for smoking-related health problems
- Send a strong message that health and addiction-free living is important and taken seriously by the school
- Reduce costs of maintenance and cleaning
- Reduce staff time spent on maintenance, including picking up cigarette butts and other tobacco waste
- Enhance the campus’ image as a clean and healthy environment for visitors such as parents, prospective students, donors, as well as for the larger community
The colleges in our three counties – SUNY Delhi, Oneonta, and Cobleskill and Hartwick College – are vital to our region’s economy and to our communities’ vibrancy. As of July 2020, over 2,500 campuses nationwide have become 100% smoke free, and in New York State 73 campuses are tobacco free, and another 21 are smoke free.
TFC-DOS offers FREE assistance, information and resources to colleges interested in developing tobacco-free policies.
Contact Jennifer Hill at jennifer.hill003@sphp.com, TFC-DOS Youth Engagement Coordinator to find out more.
Resources on tobacco-free campuses:
https://www.tobaccofreecampus.org/
http://www.nystobaccofreecolleges.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Final-NYSCTFI-Tobacco-Free-Campus-Guide.pdf
https://system.suny.edu/healthaffairs/tobaccofree/campus-initiative/