Young adults have been found to have the highest prevalence of polytobacco use. Colleges have begun implementing tobacco-free policies but have followed up with little enforcement. The purpose of this study was to look at perception of enforcement strategies of tobacco policies on Texas college campuses.
The final study included 10,351 students between the ages of 18-29 years. 10 college campuses were included in the study with seven having comprehensive tobacco policies and three having partial policies. Comprehensive tobacco policies prohibited tobacco use in all campus buildings, on all campus property, and also prohibited the use of smokeless tobacco. Participants were put into three groups including nontobacco user, single-product user, and polytobacco user. 80% of the sample identifies as non-tobacco users and 11.4% were single-product users. Participants were asked “how important is it to you that your school enforces the tobacco policy on your campus?” “To what extent would you support citations, an online reporting tool, and peer enforcers on your campus?” and “How successful has enforcement of the tobacco policy been on your campus?”
Findings showed there were significant differences based on the three tobacco user groups. As expected, support for the dependent variables were highest for the nontobacco user group followed by the single-product user and the polytobacco user. Results also showed differences in responses were consistent across students attendings schools with comprehensive policies and those attendings schools with a partial policy. Overall, results showed that almost all students agree with the importance of enforcing tobacco polices and adopting policy enforcements may help reduce tobacco use on campuses.
Take Away: The purpose of this study was to look at perception of enforcement strategies of tobacco policies on Texas college campuses. The final study included 10,351 students and 10 college campuses. Participants were put into three groups including nontobacco user, single-product user, and polytobacco user. Dependent variables assessed included importance of enforcement and support for ways to follow through with enforcement. Findings showed there were significant differences based on the three tobacco user groups. As expected, support for the dependent variables were highest for the nontobacco user group followed by the single-product user and the polytobacco user. Overall, results showed that almost all students agree with the importance of enforcing tobacco polices and adopting policy enforcements may help reduce tobacco use on campuses.