“Every doctor, nurse, health plan, purchaser, and medical school in America should make treating tobacco dependence a top priority.” –David Satcher, MD., Ph.D. Former U.S. Surgeon General (2000)

     The purpose of this blog is to advocate for a policy change at Weber State University, to help it become one of the increasing number of tobacco-free college and university campuses. It also will provide a forum for research, education, and discussion, about the problems and solutions to creating a healthier campus environment for everyone. 
     Tobacco companies continue to lose costumers to death and illness. According to former Health and Human Services Director, Kathleen Sebelius in the Surgeon General's report (2014), over one-half a million adults will die prematurely from smoking in one year alone.
     Seeking out new consumers, tobacco companies target youth and young adults. This has shown to be effective, as the Surgeon general's report in 2014 found that 98% of tobacco users start before age 26. Tobacco companies are masters at marketing and manipulation. In fact, one over-arching theme found in marketing tobacco products is 'freedom' (Jackler, 2013). This is ironic, as the goal of these marketing campaigns is to attract consumers to become addicted to their products and dependent upon nicotine.  The Stanford Research Into the Impact of Advertising (SRITA) points out many parallels between traditional tobacco advertisement and ads for the industry's evolving products related to E-cigarettes and vaping products. The following presentation from SRITA reflects the manipulative tactics advertisers use to lure individuals to their addictive products:

https://youtu.be/z2VasuBA     Educators, especially in institutions of higher learning, should provide the best possible environment for students as they progress into adulthood, this includes teaching critical thinking about costs and benefits regarding tobacco use. 

      In 2009, a proposal came before the President's Board at Weber State University for a 100% tobacco-free campus. It was rejected due to worries about infringing upon international students, faculty, and concerns for recruiting. A survey was conducted in 2011 to assess attitudes toward smoking on-campus with 465 respondents, 50.97% of them strongly agreeing with the statement: "I support a 100% tobacco-free environment." In 2013, smoke-free zones were established on-campus which comply with the Utah State Clean Air Act, requiring a 25-foot zone surrounding the entrance to buildings. An additional stretch of courtyard was also designated a smoke-free zone. In reviewing the available information, it appears administrators and students are reluctant to make policy that appears to discriminate against a minority of the population. Many see this as a cultural or religious issue, as the predominate religion prohibits tobacco, rather than a health concern. Moving forward, educators should emphasize the health concerns for those exposed to tobacco products. Unveiling the systematic targeting and manipulating of young adults by the tobacco industry may help sway those fearful of removing freedom of choice. Previously, the only 100% tobacco-free campus students were aware of was the private university owned by the LDS church. Now we have many diverse universities across the country that have chosen to be tobacco-free and their examples can be a valuable support. As of January 2, 2017, there were 1,757 smoke-free campuses and 1,468 were completely tobacco free. A systematic review of available studies from Frazer, McHugh, Calling & Kelleher (2016), show that institutional smoking bans not only lead to a decrease in second-hand smoke exposure but may reduce consumption of tobacco-users as well.

Doctors Urged to Treat Smoking as Illness (2000, June 28). Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2000/06/28/doctors-urged-to-treat-smoking-as-illness/8e80262e-6788-465d-bd6e-36274cb7d8d9/?utm_term=.199e03dac4d5

Frazer K, McHugh J, Callinan JE, Kelleher C. (27 May 2016). Impact of institutional smoking bans on reducing harms and secondhand smoke exposure. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2016, Issue 5. Art. No.: CD011856. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD011856.pub2.

Jackler, R. (2013). Electronic cigarette advertising lecture. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTccxc-Brep3UNqDNHzMaqw

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Surgeon General's Reports (2012). Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults: A Report of the Surgeon General, 2012. Retrieved from https://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/reports/preventing-youth-tobacco-use/index.html

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Surgeon General's Reports (2014). The Health Consequences of Smoking—50 Years of Progress: A Report of the Surgeon General, 2014. Retrieved from https://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/reports/50-years-of-progress/index.html