UK Celebrates Tobacco-Free Campus Anniversary

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 11, 2010) − As the University of Kentucky joins with college campuses and health groups across the nation to mark the American Cancer Society's 35th Annual Great American Smokeout, the UK campus will also mark its first anniversary of going tobacco-free.

UK's tobacco-free policy began Nov. 18, 2009, with the goal of making UK a healthier place to live, work, and learn. The initiative is spearheaded by the Tobacco-Free Task Force, co-chaired by Ellen Hahn, professor in the UK College of Nursing, and Anthany Beatty, assistant vice president for Campus Services. The members of the task force represent a diverse cross-section of departments and service areas at UK.

“The reason tobacco-free campuses are a national trend is due, in part, to the exorbitant health care costs associated with tobacco-related illnesses. Kentucky spends over $1.7 billion per year treating sick smokers,” said Ellen Hahn, co-chair and director of the Kentucky Center for Smoke-Free Policy.

“I am proud of how our campus community has taken a leadership role in ridding our campus of tobacco use,” said UK President Lee T. Todd, Jr. “Tobacco use causes far too many deaths and health ailments in Kentucky, and it is completely preventable. As Kentucky’s flagship, land-grant university, we are leveraging our tobacco-free campus model to solve that Kentucky Ugly. We are educating our campus about the dangers of tobacco use, and making sure our research in the field is being leveraged to impact communities across the Commonwealth.”

Since the implementation of the tobacco-free policy, which prohibits the use of all tobacco products on campus (cigarettes, chew, pipes, cigars, snuff, electronic cigarettes, etc.), the university has seen a dramatic increase in the number of employees and students enrolled in programs to quit using tobacco. Compared to the year prior to the policy, employees and students were 4.5 times more likely to attempt to quit using tobacco. The university provides free nicotine-replacement products for employees, sponsored dependents and students enrolled in tobacco treatment programs.

“Tobacco-free environments make it easier for people to quit and lower the chances that young people will start smoking,” said Audrey Darville, a tobacco treatment specialist for UK HealthCare.

A tobacco-free policy has been in effect at the UK Medical Center and all UK HealthCare-owned facilities within Fayette County since Nov. 30, 2008.

”Overall, the response to the policy by students and employees has been very positive, with most people complying with the policy,” Beatty said.

Events are planned across campus from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM as part of the week long observance of the one year tobacco-free anniversary.

Monday, Nov. 15: Policy Reminder Card (with free drink coupon) Distribution

·         Classroom Building/Patterson Office Tower Plaza

·         Rose St. sidewalk outside the Chem-Phys Building

·         Rose St. Plaza on the Medical Center Campus

Tuesday, Nov. 16: Policy Reminder Card (with free drink coupon) Distribution

·         Classroom Building/Patterson Office Tower Plaza

·         Rose St. sidewalk outside the Chem-Phys Building

·         Rose St. Plaza on the Medical Center Campus

Wednesday, Nov. 17: Policy Reminder Card (with free drink coupon) Distribution

·         Student Center Free Speech Area

·         Sidewalk between Grehan and Pence/Kastle, leading up to Funkhauser

·         Rose St. Plaza on the Medical Center Campus

Wednesday, Nov. 17: Cigarette Butt Clean-up

·         Begin at 10 a.m. and return at 2 p.m. to the Student Center Patio for cigarette butt count. Other locations TBA.
 

While compliance with the policy is good, cigarette butts can still be seen on and around campus. Cigarette butts are not biodegradable and are a known environmental hazard. It is estimated that nearly 1.7 billion pounds of cigarette butts become litter each year, comprising 39 percent of all litter globally. To promote a clean, healthy environment, the cigarette butt cleanup project raises awareness about the policy and the effects of tobacco use on the individual and the environment.

Thursday, Nov. 18: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Great American Smoke Out-iQuit Tobacco

Event. Free food. Cold turkey sandwiches, s'mores and hot chocolate. Quitting smoking "cold turkey" is not a successful method to quit. Only 5 percent of people will succeed using “cold turkey.” Learn "s'more” effective ways to quit using tobacco.

·         Classroom Building/Patterson Office Tower Plaza area

·         Rose St. walkway

·         In front of the Wethington Building on Limestone.
 

For more information on UK's tobacco-free policy, go to: www.uky.edu/TobaccoFree.