Resources Library – Smoke-Free Environments – Colleges and Universities

Smoke-Free Environments – Colleges and Universities

Despite the relative decline of smoking rates in Canada, smoking among young adults aged 20-24 remains higher than any other age demographic. Policies for 100% smoke-free campuses not only provide protection from second-hand smoke, but also discourage tobacco and cannabis use among young people. (Source: University and College 100% Smoke-Free Campuses in Canada – Canadian Cancer Society)

Currently, all elementary, middle and high schools in New Brunswick (K-12) are required by the New Brunswick Smoke-Free Places Act to be 100% smoke-free (inside as well as outside – on all school grounds). Universities, colleges and private post-secondary institutions are not. They are only required by law to have a smoke-free policy indoors and to enforce a smoking and vaping ban on outdoor areas already designated smoke-free by the New Brunswick Smoke-Free Places Act (for example, 9m from doorways, windows and air intakes of buildings that are for public use).

Until this changes, Smoke and Vape Free NB (SVFNB) encourages post-secondary institutions to be Wellness Champions by developing and implementing their own comprehensive smoke-free campus policy.

There are many benefits to making your campus smoke-free:

• Provides a healthier environment for everyone on campus.
• Helps smokers who are trying to quit succeed.
• Provides a cleaner campus with reduced litter.
• Reduces costs for cleaning up cigarette butts.
• Discourages tobacco, cannabis and vaping product use, especially among young people
  (Source: University and College 100% Smoke-Free Campuses in Canada – Canadian Cancer Society)

Important aspects of your comprehensive 100% smoke-free campus policy to consider:

• NO designated smoking and vaping areas. You must leave the campus grounds to smoke or vape.
• Prohibited to smoke AND vape ALL substances – tobacco, cannabis, e-liquids for vapes, etc.
• Signage all over campus as well as inside campus buildings indicating that it is a 100% smoke-free environment.
• Education and awareness for students, staff and visitors about the benefits of such a policy.
• Offer support to people who smoke – students and employees – to manage their nicotine cravings while on campus (have nicotine replacement therapies available).
• Support those who want to quit (free help and advice, cover access to smoking cessation drugs).
• Have guidelines in place to enforce the policy (how to handle people who do not respect it).
• Think of positive ways to support adherence to the policy (positive key messaging, contests, etc.).
  (Source: Be part of the Wellness Movement with a Smoke-Free Campus – NBATC – 2019)

Encouraging and supporting the adoption of 100% smoke-free policies on all New Brunswick post-secondary campuses has been identified as a priority in New Brunswick’s Tobacco-Free Living Strategy (2019-2023). We are committed to helping post-secondary institutions administrators, faculty, staff, students, and volunteers work towards this objective. Contact us for help and support!

Legislation & Policies

See our Smoke-Free Environments page for the complete list of all designated smoke-free spaces required by law in New Brunswick.

Reporting Smoking and Vaping Violations

See our Smoke-Free Environments page.

Signage

See our Smoke-Free Environments page for information on signage requirements, as well as downloadable signs and templates.

Campuses that go 100% smoke-free can also find resources to make their own signs by visiting these websites:

• SmokeFreeCampus.ca
  Smoke-free campus policies that make it easier for people to resist and quit smoking can have a tremendous impact on the health of an entire campus community! This website presents tools and resources, including a guidebook, that Canadian post-secondary institutions can use to develop and implement their own smoke-free policies and strategies. Check out this DropBox link for creative shared materials you can use for your campaign to make your campus smoke-free!

Dangers of Exposure to Second and Third-Hand Smoke

See our Smoke-Free Environments page for information on the importance of smoke-free environments and the dangers of second and third-hand smoke – in both indoor and outdoor settings.

Of particular interest:

• Smoke Is Smoke! – New Brunswick Anti-Tobacco Coalition (2019)
• Outdoor Spaces: Smoke-Free for All – New Brunswick Anti-Tobacco Coalition (2015)
• The Tobacco Atlas: Second-Hand Smoke (2019)

Resources – Making Campuses Smoke-Free

Resources – Integrating Smoking Cessation in Campus Smoke-Free Policies

Contact us for resources and help on creating a comprehensive smoke-free policy on your campus, which includes smoking cessation support for students, faculty, and staff who smoke or use vaping products.

Visit our Quit Smoking – Youth and Young Adults page for a list of available free quit smoking resources for students.

Visit our Quit Smoking – Adults page for a list of available free quit smoking resources for faculty and staff.

Funding & Grants

Funding and grants available for tobacco and vaping product use prevention, integrating smoking cessation in your campus as well as making your campus smoke-free are listed on our Funding & Grants page. For example, the CCNB Edmundston campus took advantage of a Take Action Against Tobacco Use (TATU) grant to create signs and public education materials for its smoke-free campuses. Their story, as well as other inspiring stories related to TATU grant projects, are listed on this page as well.

Learning Opportunities – Smoke-Free Environments

Are you a campus administrator, student leader, health care professional, or policymaker? Recommended resources to consult are listed on our Smoke-Free Environments page for you to learn more about:

• statistics on smoking rates and exposure to second-hand and third-hand smoke;
• public health information regarding the risks of smoking and vaping; and
• aligning your efforts with those already underway nationally and provincially.

Success Stories -Smoke-Free Campuses