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Across the nation, the smoking rates among 18-24 year olds continue to rise. One portion of this age group includes college students. College is a time when students are granted more freedom and independence to make very important life choices. One of these choices is the one regarding tobacco.
“Should I try smoking or chewing?” This question is now up to the individual to answer. The students are bombarded with opportunities to try smoking and even peer pressure to do so. Potential opportunities include smoking in their dorms, coffee shops, and bars. Some students quickly become addicted, and others become social smokers, who only smoke at parties or when they are out with friends. Even social smokers often find it is difficult to quit and how easily social smoking can could turn into a dangerous addiction.
Tobacco prevention advocates, the Mecklenburg County Health Department and area colleges and universities are working together to reduce the number of college students who smoke cigarettes or use other tobacco products. They are also working to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke on campuses by increasing smoke-free policies in indoor and outdoor areas and nearby off-campus areas frequented by young
The North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund (HWTF) provides funding to organizations around to state to support the colleges develop smoke-free and tobacco- free policies. Tobacco Free College’s advocates encourage all college campuses to adopt a 100% tobacco-free policy. In N.C. there are more than 60 college campuses, 15 of which have a 100% tobacco-free campus policy. The Mecklenburg County Health Department works with nineteen different college campuses, including five in Mecklenburg County.
Johnson and Wales University Charlotte have more than 2,400 students enrolled in the College of Business, the College of Culinary Art and The Hospitality College. According to a March 2008 survey 30% are smokers. With the help of HWTF and Mecklenburg County Health Department, Johnson and Wales has been able to raise awareness about tobacco use and start placing policies about tobacco use on campus. The current tobacco policy for Johnson and Wales Charlotte allows smoking only in specifically designated areas located outside university buildings. Smoking is prohibited in classrooms, restrooms, corridors, stairways, all residence halls, courtyards or within 20 feet of buildings.
University of North Carolina Charlotte (UNCC) is the fourth largest of the institutions within the University of North Carolina system. The Student Health Center works with tobacco control advocates, who are working to improve the University’s smoking policy. UNCC policy bans smoking from all breezeways and connectors, inside all buildings, all outside dining areas and all campus shuttle stops. Smoking is also prohibited within 25 feet of any building entrance. In June 2008 state law permits UNC campuses to regulate smoking inside all campus buildings and within 100 linear feet of building grounds.
Davidson College is a nationally recognized liberal arts college located north of Charlotte in the town of Davidson. Because tobacco farmers once sent their children to Davidson College, tobacco use was rarely questioned until the mid 1990s. The College policy now prohibits smoking in all indoor areas except for the Martin Court apartments and Patterson Court houses. All residence halls are smoke-free and tobacco-free.
Belmont Abbey College is a Catholic, Benedictine, and liberal arts institution founded in 1876 that welcomes students of all religious and cultural backgrounds. Students of Belmont Abbey College represent 28 states and 11 countries. Belmont Abbey College currently has a coalition of volunteers who want to improve the health and wellness of the college community through tobacco policy advocacy. The college has had a long history of permissive tobacco use until the coalition worked with Mecklenburg County Health Department to put a tobacco policy in place, which permits tobacco use in residence halls, and bans tobacco use within 20 feet of public buildings.
Queens University of Charlotte is a four-year private university with a student, staff and faculty population of about 2000. The tobacco prevention coalition consists of a group of students who call themselves Leadership Team. Queens University bans smoking from inside any building on campus, including residence halls. Smoking is not allowed in individual residence hall rooms or within 25 feet of building entrances, air intake vents, and windows. Smoking is permitted in all other outside areas on campus except the Trexler Courtyard and Diana Fountain area.
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