Position statement on tobacco on college and university campuses.

he American College Health Association (ACHA) acknowledges and supports the findings of the Surgeon General that tobacco use in any form, active and/or passive, is a significant health hazard. ACHA further recognizes that environmental tobacco smoke has been classified as a Class-A carcinogen and that there is no safe level of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), a recognized toxic air contaminant. In light of these health risks, ACHA has adopted a NO TOBACCO USE policy and encourages colleges and universities to be diligent in their efforts to achieve a 100% indoor and outdoor campus-wide tobacco-free environment. This position statement reflects the viewpoint of ACHA and serves only as a guide * to assist colleges and universities with evaluating progress toward becoming or maintaining tobacco-free living and learning environments that support the achievement of personal and academic goals. ACHA joins with other professional health associations in promoting tobacco-free environments. According to the ACHA-National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA) conducted in fall 2008, 83% of college students described themselves as non-smokers (never smoked or have not smoked cigarettes in the last 30 days); 90% reported being non-smokers for hookah/water pipes (never used or have not used in the last 30 days); and 97% described themselves as non-users of smokeless tobacco (never used or have not used in the last 30 days). ACHA supports the health goals of the U.S. Public Health Service to reduce the proportion of adults who smoke to below 12% by the year 2010 and to positively influence America's college students to help them remain or become * Compliance with the elements of this position statement is not and cannot be mandated by ACHA; nor is compliance a condition for institutional membership in ACHA. tobacco-free. Additionally, ACHA actively supports the Healthy Campus 2010 goals to reduce cigarette smoking by college students to below 10.5% and smokeless tobacco use to below 1.0% by the year 2010. Efforts to promote tobacco-free environments have led to substantial reductions in the number of people who smoke, the amount of tobacco products consumed, and the number of people exposed to environmental tobacco hazards. ACHA acknowledges that achieving a tobacco-free environment requires strong leadership and support from all members of the college/university community. Because the improvements to health can be so significant, ACHA recommends the following positions be taken to address policy, prevention, and cessation as it pertains to tobacco issues: 1. Develop a strongly …