New research: Smoke- and tobacco-free campus policies in California are working

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Tobacco-Free Campus The American Journal of Public Health recently published new research by Amanda Fallin, RN, PhD, Maria Roditis, PhD, MPH, and Stanton A. Glantz, titled Association of Campus Tobacco Policies With Secondhand Smoke Exposure, Intention to Smoke on Campus, and Attitudes About Outdoor Smoking Restrictions.

The researchers surveyed California college students between September 2013 and May 2014 on 8 college campuses with a range of policies (smoke-free indoors only, designated outdoor smoking areas, smoke-free, and tobacco-free). Findings include:

  • Stronger policies were associated with fewer students reporting exposure to secondhand smoke or seeing someone smoke on campus.
  • On tobacco-free college campuses, fewer students smoked and reported intention to smoke on campus.
  • Strong majorities of students supported outdoor smoking restrictions across all policy types.
  • Comprehensive tobacco-free policies are effective in reducing exposure to smoking and intention to smoke on campus.

In summary, smoke and tobacco free policies are widely accepted and are working on the campuses surveyed in California. The full paper is available on PubMed.gov .