On July 1, the University of Maryland (UMD) College Park enacted a campus-wide smoking ban that was endorsed by the University Senate and approved by President Loh on May 2, 2013.
The new policy prohibits the use of lit tobacco products on campus with the exception of four designated areas (view locations on the campus map - PDF file) and has drawn both commendation and criticism from students, faculty and staff. According to School of Public Health (SPH) experts, the ban has the potential to do some good, but will be more effective with stronger communication and enforcement mechanisms and with the incorporation of other smoking cessation aids.
One of the major goals of the smoking ban is to limit second and thirdhand smoke exposure. Secondhand smoke is the involuntary inhalation of smoke by someone who is not smoking, while thirdhand smoke is the residual toxins from tobacco that linger on clothes, hair and other surfaces after smoke leaves the air.
Dr. James Butler, assistant professor of behavioral and community health and an associate director inof the Maryland Center for Health Equity, studies tobacco control and prevention and the social and environmental influences on smoking. Butler said, “the ban could be effective in limiting second and third-hand smoke exposure, although it does not fully address tobacco addiction.”
“In addition to the ban, effective cessation methods need to be offered not just to students but to faculty and staff,” he said.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy – such as “the nicotine patch” or nicotine gum – has proven to be
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| The nicotine patch is one form of Nicotine Replacement Therapy |
This concept was reflected in a recent Campus Affairs Committee (CAC) survey of nearly 3,000 UMD students that found, of the 21% who indicated they were smokers, less than 1/10 of students stated they would be encouraged to quit smoking because of the ban. In addition, while 58% of respondents were in favor of the smoking ban, only 22% were initially familiar with the policy.
Dr. Robert Feldman, a professor of behavioral and community health whose research focuses on smoking cessation within Costa Rica and in the US. Latino community, confirmed that smoking bans may not be the strongest cessation tool, but they can be effective.
“When you ban smoking on the worksite, it encourages people to stop smoking,” he said. “You’re raising the psychological cost of smoking.”
Dr. Feldman said publicity and enforcement will be the key to the UMD ban’s effectiveness. Like Dr. Butler, he emphasized utilizing multiple smoking cessation tools and methods.
“If you want to get the greatest impact then you need to have multiple ways of informing people.” He said. “Any single method will have very little effect.”
The University of Maryland University Health Center currently offers free smoking cessation services including acupuncture and nicotine replacement therapies to provide this type of multifaceted approach. The campus is also working to increase awareness about the issue and the ban.
“The [Campus Affairs Committee] felt that communication about the new policy is critically important and should be an early focus of implementation,” University Senate Coordinator Sarah Heidt said. “From its survey and from conversations around campus, the committee found that many people did not know the University would be smoke-free.”
Currently, over 1,000 campuses across the United States have adopted smoke-free policies. In Maryland, Montgomery Community College enacted a smoking ban in 2008. Towson University and Frostburg State University were close behind in 2010 and 2011. The University of Maryland, College Park also considered a ban four years ago, but decided against it and instead prohibited smoking within 25 feet of buildings, Heidt said.
School of Public Health senior Rachel Shields said she is in favor of the direction UMD is heading with the new policy but that the issue of enforcement is a concern.
“I’m really proud of the smoking ban and am very happy that UMD has decided to impose it,” the behavioral and community health major said. “I am concerned that it will not be effectively enforced, but the fact that Maryland has highlighted smoking as an important issue is still a great step.”
While many institutions with smoke-free policies have punitive enforcement mechanisms in place, the Campus Affairs Committee has recommended that penalties be delayed for one year at the College Park campus to allow the school to focus on communication and preparation.
Sarah Heidt said this decision was primarily due to the fact that UMD is a large school, and implementing a smoke-free policy would be a complex process that called for a lot of sensitivity. She said the Campus Affairs Committee tried to find a balance between compliance with the University System policy and the difficulties faced by campus smokers.
“The Campus Affairs Committee felt that a policy focused on respect and wellness was more suited to our campus than one focused on punitive measures,” Heidt said.
“The committee wanted to allow time to adapt to the new policy and to learn what it means for UMD to be a smoke-free environment.”
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Smokefree.umd.edu
Wellness @Maryland
www.smokefree.gov
www.becomeanex.org
www.espanol.smokefree.gov
There are four locations on the campus that have been designated smoking areas by President Loh (map):
1. South of Ellicott Hall, between Byrd Stadium and the lacrosse practice field
2. South side of McKeldin Library, facing Somerset Hall
3. North of the Riggs Alumni Center, near the entrance to the parking garage on Stadium Drive
4. South side of Comcast Center, to the left of the main staircase
In addition, there is no prohibition from smoking in personal vehicles.
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