On Sept. 1, 2012, Oregon State University joined hundreds of other U.S. colleges and universities that are already smoke or tobacco free. Having a smoke-free campus is consistent with OSU’s mission and initiatives to promote healthy living and a healthy planet.

Second-hand smoke is an identified health hazard increasing the risk for cancer, stroke and heart disease. Exposure to smoke also amplifies health concerns for children, the elderly and those with chronic respiratory conditions. (American Cancer Society, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Public health initiatives that include a mix of environmental and policy changes, educational programs, and resources that provide support and skill-building are the most effective method for changing health behavior; such as smoking.

Other worksites that have adopted smoke- or tobacco-free policies have shown a decrease in the number of individuals who smoke. Individuals are more likely to quit smoking or think about quitting smoking when the availability of places to smoke is reduced. Ex-smokers have fewer days of illness, fewer health complaints and less bronchitis and pneumonia than current smokers.

Other community benefits of a smoke-free campus include a reduction in fire hazards, less litter from cigarette butts, and lower health care costs.

For more information, background, FAQs and resources, go to oregonstate.edu/smokefree.

-bv

As some of you may have already learned through early media coverage, university leadership gave final approval recently to a policy forbidding smoking at Oregon State University’s Corvallis campus that will go into effect in Fall 2012. The decision, made following a second in-depth Cabinet discussion of findings and a recommendation in support of the policy from the OSU Smoke Free Review Task Force, was not arrived at lightly, but was made in recognition of the destructive, disease-causing nature of smoking and of the right that students, faculty, staff and campus visitors have to breathe clean air in a smoke-free campus environment.

I recognize that while the strong majority of our campus community members do not smoke, many struggle with this highly addictive practice and its many damaging effects. Over the next 18 months, the university will provide information, education and access to cessation programs and assistance in an effort to help those who would like to kick the habit. It is our collective hope that by the time the policy takes effect, the number of smokers at OSU will have dropped significantly, mitigating individual difficulties around compliance. We will also discuss other OSU locations and policies regarding smoking at those venues.

With this policy change, OSU joins hundreds of campuses in the Pacific Northwest and around the United States that have already enacted such bans. It is my hope that by doing so, we will improve the health of our community now and for generations to come.

Sincerely,
Edward J. Ray
President

–mko