Smoke-Free and Tobacco-Free Policies in Colleges and Universities ― United States and Territories, 2017

Each year in the United States, cigarette smoking causes an estimated 480,000 deaths, including approximately 41,000 deaths from secondhand smoke exposure among nonsmoking adults (1).Smoke-free policies protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke exposure, reduce the social acceptability of smoking, help in preventing youth and young adult smoking initiation, and increase smokers' efforts to quit smoking (1,2).Given that 99% of adult cigarette smokers first start smoking before age 26 years and many smokers transition to regular, daily use during young adulthood (2),* colleges and universities represent an important venue for protecting students, faculty, staff members, and guests from secondhand smoke exposure through tobacco control policies (3).To assess smoke-free and tobacco-free policies in U.S. colleges and universities, CDC and the American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation (ANRF) determined the number of campuses nationwide that completely prohibit smoking (smoke-free) or both smoking and smokeless tobacco product use (tobacco-free) in all indoor and outdoor areas.As of November 2017, at least 2,082 U.S. college and university campuses had smoke-free policies.Among these campuses, 1,743 (83.7%) were tobacco-free; 1,658 (79.6%) specifically prohibited electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use; and 854 (41.0%) specifically prohibited hookah smoking.Smokefree and tobacco-free policies on college and university campuses can help reduce secondhand smoke exposure, tobacco use initiation, and the social acceptability of tobacco use (1-3).Data on smoke-free and tobacco-free policies enacted as of November 2017 were obtained from ANRF's College Campus Tobacco Policy Database, † the only national repository of tobacco restrictions on college campuses in the United States.The database is compiled using a daily news digest from Internet searches, as well as direct communication with state and local health departments, university officials, students, and alumni.§ The policies then are analyzed using standardized criteria and entered into the database.Campuses eligible for consideration are located in all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, commonwealths, territories, and in tribal entities.