Identifying the Problem

Tobacco is not only a major health concern but also an important social justice, environmental and economic issue of today.

Health Concern

Tobacco-related deaths remain the  leading cause of preventable death  in the United States, killing more  than 480,000 people per year.

Tobacco kills more than alcohol,  AIDS, car accidents, illegal drugs,  murders, and suicides combined.  Vaping among youth rose to  epidemic levels in 2018. A whole  new generation has become  addicted to nicotine.

Social Justice

One of the major problems with tobacco is that certain populations of our society disproportionately bear the burden of tobacco use and tobacco related diseases. Youth and young adults, people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and or queer (LGBTQ+) individuals, and low-income communities are often the hardest hit when it comes to tobacco use.

Environment

Cigarettes are the most littered item in the United States. Contrary to popular belief, cigarettes are not biodegradable and don’t break down naturally. The youth vaping epidemic has also impacted the environment. While plastic straws and single use plastic products have garnered a lot of attention for the damage they cause, little attention has been brought to tobacco products that also use single use plastic like disposable e-cigarettes and vaping devices.

Economic

Tobacco also has an impact on a person’s bank account. Smokers earn 20% less than nonsmokers. Smoking rates are high in lower income households and in some industries like food service and construction.

Assessing Need

It’s important to build relationships  with the individuals who you want  to work with and be open about  your intentions and plans. Once  you have identified a motivated  group of people, figuring out the  best way to approach it will likely  take research, time, and planning.  Make a conscious decision to  actively listen to those who will be  impacted by a policy change. Sometimes in order to address one concern, you may need to address  another.

Certain populations have  been targeted by tobacco  companies. It would be unfair to  assume that these populations on campus would not be impacted also. That’s why it is important to  analyze the policy change through  a health equity lens in the  assessment phase. Be sure to  seriously consider the challenges  that you may face as you plan out  your SPARK activities and policy procedures. You should be  prepared to address these  concerns based on the unique  characteristics of your campus.

It’s also important to understand why  a comprehensive policy without exemptions is best practice.

Pass Comprehensive Policies

A comprehensive 100% tobacco-free  policy includes tobacco in all its forms,  like cigarettes, cigars, hookah, chew,  e-cigarettes and vaping devices.

Here’s why passing a comprehensive policy is important:

It’s healthier for everyone.

While cigarette use has decreased,  many of people are still exposed to secondhand smoke and aerosol from  e-cigarettes and the health harms of other tobacco products Comprehensive  tobacco-free policies are effective in reducing exposure to secondhand smoke  and aerosol and has been linked to  lower smoking rates.

Smokefree is not enough.

It’s not just cigarettes anymore. New tobacco products are introduced all the time – many of them are designed to get around smokefree policies.

It’s clear cut.

The easier a rule is to understand, the easier it is to follow. Adopting a comprehensive 100% tobacco-free campus policy it makes it that much easier to implement and enforce.

Understanding The Community

Whether you are in an urban or rural community, all communities are complex and dynamic. Make sure you understand the dynamics on campus. Research your campus, find out who the campus leaders and decision makers are. This understanding will help to inform your next steps, adjustments you should make, how to partner, or start your next policy push.