UMKC has announced plans to go completely smoke-free beginning August 1, continuing a trend that has become a countrywide focal point since 2012, when the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services created the Tobacco-Free College Campus Initiative.
Image Source: kcbluessociety.org
Behavior change expert Lou Ryan, whose company, SelfHelpWorks, offers an online quit-smoking course, has long called for “bold action” to be taken against the dangers of smoking. Said Ryan: “I applaud each and every single college and university who have complied with the ambition of the Tobacco-Free College Campus Initiative. It’s a great to see this issue being addressed and embraced on a mass scale, particularly in the arena of higher learning.”
Image Source: wilmu.edu
To say that the Initiative has been embraced is no exaggeration. In late 2011 there were approximately 600 campuses that were 100% smoke-free. That number has since expanded dramatically. Today, there are approximately 1400 college and university campuses in the U.S. that have adopted 100% smoke-free campus policies. All of these schools have eliminated smoking both indoors and outdoors throughout the entire campus, and nearly 1,000 of these schools are completely tobacco free, meaning chewing tobacco is also not permitted. There are a growing number of campuses who are banning the use of e-cigarettes as well.
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It has been well-documented that if a person does not take up tobacco use by their mid-20’s then they likely never will. For this statistical reason alone the Tobacco-Free Initiative is validated and meritorious, and vital in the effort to stomp out the increased health spending and decreased quality of life associated with tobacco use.
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Sure is a very nice place to live!
That’s really promising! a smoke-free city!
It’s good to hear that you’ll never smoke if you haven’t taken tobacco use until mid-20’s! I’m safe!
I didn’t know a whole city can achieve being smoke-free. That’s great!