While cigarette smoking overall has decreased over the recent years, emerging adults are still being targeted by marketing efforts keeping the population at high risk. Effective smoke-free policies can help to lower use and discourage smoking initiation. The current study compares student self-reported cigarette use and their perceptions around use before and after implementation of a smoking ban.
Data was pulled for this study from the American College Health Association National College Health Assessment II. This survey encompasses over 700 colleges with 7-12% of the student body participating. Tobacco and alternative tobacco product use was first assessed by asking students if they had used any products in the previous 30 days. These products included cigarette, cigar, smokeless tobacco, hookah, and e-cigarette. They also asked students their perceived proportion of the student body who uses tobacco and nicotine was.
Final sample sizes of this study included 15,836 cases and participants were on average 24.4 years old. The majority of students were female (71.9%) and 41.8% were Hispanic. 15.7% of the participants reported nicotine use and 8.2% reported cigarette use. The instances of this use declined from the start of the study in 2011 to the end in 2018. Students estimated that 41% smoked in 2011 and 30% in 2018. Hookah use increased between 2011-2015 and e-cigarettes use increased between 2016-2018. Results showed there was a significantly steeper decline of tobacco use after the ban on campus. The pre/post decline was strongest in the youngest age category and that student’s perceptions use decreased after the ban was in place. These findings show campus wide tobacco bans are effective and can be used to decrease tobacco use among students.
Take Away: The current study compares student self-reported cigarette use and their perceptions around use before and after implementation of a smoking ban. Data was pulled for this study from the National College Health Assessment II. Tobacco and alternative tobacco product use was assessed by asking if students had used any products in the previous 30 days. They also asked students their perceived proportion of the student body who uses tobacco products. Final sample sizes of this study included 15,836 cases and participants were on average 24.4 years old. 15.7% of the participants reported nicotine use and 8.2% reported cigarette use. The instances of this use declined from the start of the study in 2011 to the end in 2018. Students estimated 41% smoked in 2011 and 30% in 2018. There was a significantly steeper decline of tobacco use after the ban on campus. These findings show campus wide tobacco bans are effective.