1 KICK BUTTS: TOBACCO-FREE SNHU

The purpose of my project, “Kick Butts: Tobacco-Free SNHU, ” is to provide sustainable tobacco awareness and education on campus. The truth behind tobacco abuse needs to be revealed as it is costly, detrimental to the health of individuals and society, and impacts the learning and working environment at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). The main objective of this initiative is to create a positive difference whether it be informing students of the current smoking policy or changing it to adapt to the needs of the community. I conducted a student smoking survey to compare domestic and international student populations and to gain a better understanding of the attitudes and opinions of the community. The implementation of designated smoking areas is the most supported policy change at this time and would minimize second-hand smoke exposure on campus. However, through literature reviews, including guides from other colleges and universities in the United States, it appears that a tobacco-free campus would be the most beneficial long-term solution for SNHU. Tobacco abuse continues to be the leading cause of preventable and premature death in the United States, as well as in New Hampshire (Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, 2014, p. 4). Nearly 90 % of adult smokers and former smokers began smoking at or before the age of 18 (The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, 2014, p. 21). Tobacco puts youth at risk for nicotine addiction, cancer, chronic lung disease, and heart disease later in their lives. An estimate of smoking-caused health costs and productivity losses per pack sold in the United States is about $19.16 per pack (The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, 2015, para. 12). This does not include the fact that “the epidemic of smoking-caused disease in the twentieth century ranks among the 2 greatest health catastrophes of the century ” (HHS, 2014, p. 1). Quality of health is one of the most important issues we face because of its impact on society