 | ||
Tobacco-Free College Campuses refers to colleges and universities that have implemented policies prohibiting the use of tobacco products at all indoor and outdoor campus locations. Some colleges have chosen to implement a no-smoking policy but still allow the use of products such as smokeless tobacco. In addition, many colleges have chosen to restrict the use of electronic smoking devices, such as e-cigarettes. As of April 2016 there were at least 1,483 100% smoke-free campuses in the United States. Of these, 1,137 were 100% tobacco-free and 823 also prohibited the use of e-cigarettes anywhere on campus.
The policies are part of the Anti-smoking movement to reduce cigarette smoking among college students and to protect non-smokers from second-hand smoke. A 2005 study found that other forms of intervention to decrease the rates of tobacco use on campus, such as restriction of tobacco distribution and restriction of smoking within 20 feet of entrances were not as effective as smoking cessation programs in decreasing college students' smoking. When prevention-oriented education was present on college campuses, students were 23% less likely to smoke compared to their peers who were not exposed to this kind of education.