Smoke- and tobacco-free colleges and universities are gaining popularity across the U.S. In fact, according to the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation (ANRF), there were at least 2,375 100% smoke-free campus sites as of July 1, 2019, and of those 2,375, over 2,000 were also 100% tobacco-free (includes smokeless and noncombustible forms of tobacco) while 1,986 also prohibit e-cigarette use everywhere.

With the increase in college and university campuses going smoke- and tobacco-free, there has been a decline in the number of youth and young adults who smoke. In 2016, past 30-day cigarette use declined from 16% among college students in 2010, to 9% in 2016. Tobacco-free policies also help educate about the dangers of tobacco products among college students and work to raise awareness, get students involved, and decrease the number of young adults who get addicted. Lastly, cigarette butts are the most littered item on earth, with 4.5 trillion cigarettes butts being littered each year. Tobacco-free policies help to save the environment by not only reducing secondhand smoke, but by keeping the campus clean and free of littered tobacco products.

In partnership with the Pennsylvania Alliance to Control Tobacco (PACT) and Tobacco Resistance Unit (TRU), the Regional Pennsylvania Tobacco-Free Coalitions have collaborated to establish a Tobacco 21 Awareness Campaign for college and university campuses in Pennsylvania, since the age increase more significantly impacted those aged 18 – 21.

The overall goal of this campaign is to educate the 18-21 age range population about the new Tobacco 21 Federal Law, working with college campuses and directing them to PACT and the American Lung Association for more information and assistance with quitting tobacco products, if needed.  In addition to educational awareness and cessation services, this campaign also aspires to assist college campuses either enact or strengthen comprehensive tobacco-free campus policies to protect students’ and staff’s lungs from the dangers of secondhand smoke. This campaign includes numerous resources for college campuses including, but not limited to the following:

Awareness Campaign Posters

• Keeping Student Bodies Healthy (must now be 21 to buy tobacco)
• Keeping Future Generations Healthy (must now be 21 to buy tobacco)
• Keeping Student Bodies Healthy (this campus is tobacco-free)

The College Cessation Flyer includes all of the available programs that assist young adults with quitting.

Videos

• Real Talk on Tobacco Full Interview
• Real Talk on Tobacco Social Media Clip 1
• Real Talk on Tobacco Social Media Clip 2
• Real Talk on Tobacco Social Media Clip 3

Public Service Announcements (PSA) for campuses to utilize. Reach out to Chelsey Hildebrand for more information on PSA templates and how to promote them on your campus today!

College Campus Mini-Grant Application provides funding for higher education institutions that are interested in promoting tobacco-free resources and policy on their campus.

Freedom From Smoking Plus, College Toolkit has marketing materials, program recruitment resources and social media posts for campuses to use to help their students. Freedom From Smoking Plus® offers online help with quitting tobacco products. Contact a Lung Association’s representative for your toolkit.

PACT has the following resources available for campuses that are interested in going tobacco-free:

• Tobacco-Free College Campus Program
• Tobacco-Free Campus Toolkit