- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
Dr. John Stobo, University of California senior vice president for health sciences and services, has issued the following statement about UC's Smoke & Tobacco-free Policy:
The University of California is committed to maintaining a healthy and clean working and learning environment for our employees, students, patients and visitors. As a leading education, research and service university, UC has taken a proactive role in addressing the impact of smoking and tobacco use. Tobacco is the No. 1 cause of preventable disease and death worldwide. The health risks of tobacco use for smokers and secondhand smoke for non-smokers are well established. In addition to serious health risks, there also are environmental concerns from chemicals in cigarette butts that can leach into the soil and waterways.
The University of California Smoke & Tobacco-free Policy is a new systemwide policy that provides an environment that is free of tobacco and smoke in an effort to create a clean, healthy working and learning atmosphere. This policy benefits everyone.
Effective Jan. 1, 2014, the University of California will be entirely smoke- and tobacco-free. Smoking and the use of all tobacco products including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, snuff, water pipes, pipes, hookahs, chew and any other non-combustible tobacco product will be prohibited across all campuses and facilities, including inside buildings, outdoor areas and sidewalks, parking lots, and residential housing areas.
This is a major change for many people and will require all members of the university community to be ambassadors for this initiative. The university is wholly committed to helping faculty, staff and students who want to quit smoking by offering an extensive selection of cessation resources such as health plan benefit programs, one-on-one or group cessation and education, and referrals to cessation resources.
I would like to congratulate the University of California campuses for their successful implementation of this policy as part of their ongoing commitment to the health and well-being of the entire university community. Thank you for your contribution to maintaining the university's culture of health and safety.
For more information on the Smoke & Tobacco-free Policy and a comprehensive guide to cessation resources for university staff and students, including mobile apps, links to multiple websites and other helpful resources, please visit ucal.us/tobaccofree.