Smoke & Tobacco Free Campus Kick-Off

On October 1, 2014, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia adopted a tobacco and smoke-free campus policy making all USG institutions 100% tobacco-free. According to the American College Health Assessment, 12% of college students reported smoking cigarettes and 9% report using hookah in the past 30 days. Tobacco use is the leading cause of premature and preventable death, responsible for more than 440,000 deaths a year in the United States. Cigarette smoking alone is responsible for more deaths than HIV/AIDS, alcohol, motor vehicle crashes, homicide, suicide, illegal drugs and fires – Combined.

Tobacco addiction begins almost exclusively among youth and young adults. The 2012 Surgeon General’s Report shows that 99% of smokers begin smoking and using other forms of tobacco by age 26, making college and university campuses a critical target for tobacco use prevention and cessation efforts. As part of Georgia State University’s prevention and cessation efforts, Student Health Promotion partnered with campus partners to host a Tobacco Cessation Fair, to help students learn the benefits of a smoke and tobacco free lifestyle. Free tobacco cessation workshops and web resources are available to current students through Student Health Promotion. To register for tobacco cessation contact 404-413-1577.