TUESDAY, June 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- As of November 2017, at least 2,082 U.S. college and university campuses had smoke-free policies, with most of these campuses tobacco-free, prohibiting both smoking and smokeless tobacco products, according to a study published online June 21 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Teresa W. Wang, Ph.D., from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and colleagues 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 to assess smoke-free and tobacco-free policies in U.S. colleges and universities.
The researchers found that at least 2,082 U.S. college and university campuses had smoke-free policies as of November 2017. Among these campuses, 83.7 percent were tobacco-free, and 79.6 and 41 percent specifically prohibited electronic cigarette use and hookah smoking, respectively.
"Smoke-free 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," the authors write.
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