Tobacco on Campus: No ifs, Ands or Butts?

Source from:  By Elizabeth Chapman Of the News-Times Jun 20, 2008 06/23/2008

Ann Way, Lincoln County Health & Human Services Chronic Care Program Coordinator and Tobacco Prevention Education Program Coordinator, has begun communications with Oregon Coast Community College (OCCC) Board of Education regarding the dangers of tobacco use, second-hand smoke, and an institution's role in preventing exposure. Way presented board members last month with a packet of information regarding the dangers of tobacco use, quitting methods, prevention methods, and resources. Her project through an 18-month grant is to work with educational entities to encourage tobacco-free environments. This month, to further advocate for her cause, she attended the board meeting with two guests, Andrew Esptein, school policy coordinator with the American Lung Association of Oregon; and Dr. Keith Harcourt, member of the Tobacco Advisory Council. Their goal is for OCCC campuses to join the tobacco-free educational institution club. Currently, OCCC's policy reads, "Smoking is not permitted inside the buildings of the OCCC campus, or in any classrooms or buildings off campus where classes are held, including Lincoln County School District facilities and grounds. Smoking is not permitted within 15 feet of any college entrance. Students, faculty, and staff are expected to respect the health and safety of others and the surrounding environment by properly disposing of waste and incendiary materials from smoking." The campuses are in compliance with current laws, but Way mentioned Oregon's Smoke-free Workplace Law will change soon. The law requires employers to maintain smoke-free indoor environments with some exceptions, and effective Jan. 1, 2009, the law will also prohibit smoking within 10 feet of building entrances, windows, and air intakes. Part of her job is to help employers comply with this law. Epstein addressed the board to convince them to make the campuses tobacco-free. His main argument for a tobacco-free campus was public health problems from tobacco products and secondhand smoke. "You could be the first to go completely tobacco-free. You might as well start with a clean position," Epstein said in reference to the future central county campus. Epstein said that Portland Community College recently joined the tobacco-free campus bandwagon by banning smoking on all eight campuses, going into full effect by Fall 2009. Tobacco-free policies vary at Oregon community colleges anywhere from tobacco-free campuses to limiting outdoor smoking. He commented that other campuses that have switched to tobacco-free haven't had to issue any fines, and it has given an opportunity to share information about tobacco cessation programs. Next, Dr. Harcourt spoke about his experience with the effects of tobacco in the operating room and on public health advisories. "From the operating room to the death bed, I've had too many experiences not to be emotional on this subject," he said. "There's evidence of 440,000 tobacco-related deaths each year. If any other manufactured product had that result, it would eliminated. Plus, there's the addiction potential." The Center for Disease Control's number of tobacco-related deaths each year was 438,000, but this number was last updated September 2006, this estimate includes approximately 38,000 deaths due to secondhand smoke exposure. "I'm here to urge you to start the process with students and facility to 'buy in'. A top down discourse isn't successful," said Harcourt. He encouraged the college to get the community involved and explained that it could be effective to open the upcoming central campus as tobacco-free. The board agreed to research their suggestions, noting they will need input from other stakeholders, such as the community, students, faculty, and the context of Oregon laws before any action could be taken rather than a "top down" approach. Regarding enforcement issues, Epstein noted if OCCC agrees to go 100 percent tobacco-free, then through the American Lung Association's "Oregon Tobacco-Free College Initiative," the campus is eligible to receive free resources, such as signage, policy toolkits, cessation toolkits, and resources from tobacco prevention, education, and cessation support. He added there are free services available for Oregonians to quit tobacco (1-800-QUIT-NOW). Elizabeth Chapman is a reporter with the News-Times. She can be reached at 265-8571 ext. 217 or echapman@newportnewstimes.com. Enditem