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Tobacco Use by Massachusetts Public College Students

Tobacco Use by Massachusetts Public College Students. Nicola E. Majchrzak, MPH, MSW, Nancy A. Rigotti, MD Elyse Park, PhD, Valerie Buckley, Caroline Silverman, MSc Massachusetts General Hospital Tobacco Research and Treatment Center. National Conference on Tobacco or Health, 2002.

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Tobacco Use by Massachusetts Public College Students

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  1. Tobacco Use by Massachusetts Public College Students Nicola E. Majchrzak, MPH, MSW, Nancy A. Rigotti, MD Elyse Park, PhD, Valerie Buckley, Caroline Silverman, MSc Massachusetts General Hospital Tobacco Research and Treatment Center National Conference on Tobacco or Health, 2002 Funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health

  2. Questions to be Addressed: 1. Is tobacco use a problem or concern on Massachusetts public college campuses? 2. What tobacco control policies exist and who is aware of them? 3. How are tobacco control policies enforced? 4. What are the barriers to implementing strong, effective tobacco control policies?

  3. Tobacco Use by Massachusetts Public College Students Study Schools: 11 Public MA Colleges/Universities with >=20% undergraduates living on campus Quantitative: 1999 Student survey 2001 Student survey Qualitative: Key administrator interviews Student focus groups

  4. Key Administrator Interviews • Dean of Students • Director of Residential Life/Housing • Director of University Health Services • Director of University Counseling Services

  5. Student Focus Group Participants • 18+ years old • Smoker while in college • Full-time student at respective institution • Living in university/college housing

  6. Is tobacco use a problem or concern on Massachusetts public college campuses?

  7. Administrators: How serious a problem is tobacco use on your campus? Very Serious Not Very Serious

  8. Students: Does your smoking concern you? • Health “The whole health aspect, (but) nothing’s happening to me right now that is so scary that I’ll quit.” • Money “It just makes me so mad to think about how much money I waste.” • Cosmetics “I’m afraid my teeth are going to turn yellow, that’s my biggest fear.” • Athletics “Stupid health issues like not breathing when I play softball.” “I realize the fact that smoking is bad for me, but I just don’t care because it helps.”

  9. What tobacco control policies exist and who is aware of them?

  10. Administrators: Are there any tobacco related policies on your campus regarding: %

  11. Students: Can you tell me about your school’s written tobacco rules? • “You can smoke in your room except for on substance-free floors.” • “There’s no smoking in the common areas.” • “You’re supposed to smoke 20 feet from campus buildings, but they have ashtrays right in front of the doors.”

  12. How are tobacco control policies enforced?

  13. Administrators: How well is the tobacco policy enforced? What are the penalties for breaking the policy? • “A verbal warning is most likely.” • “It’s self-regulated and respected so enforcement isn’t necessary. • “There is nothing really written for tobacco - there are specifics for ETOH and other drugs.” • “I have no idea.” %

  14. “They don’t enforce smoking.” “Nicotine is the least of their worries.” “This building is smoke-free and I’ve walked by plenty of times and I’ve seen 2 specific police officers smoking inside the office.” “They say, just don’t do it again.” “You get like a write-up slip, and if you get a certain amount, then I don’t even know.” “They don’t write you up for it. They don’t want to deal with the paperwork.” Students: How well is the tobacco policy enforced? What are the penalties for breaking the policy?

  15. What are the barriers to implementing strong, effective tobacco control policies?

  16. Administrators: Not a priority: “We haven’t considered a smoke-free policy because we haven’t seen our current policy as creating any problems.” Few resources: “We don’t specifically have it in our budget.” Student rights: “Changes will bring about a struggle to balance student rights and accommodate a sense of community.” No mandate: “We anticipate a ban from the state college building authority.”

  17. Students: Not school’s “It’s not the school’s responsibility to Responsibility: get you to stop smoking.” Enforcement: “I think the school should at least list the consequences of what’s going to happen (if you get caught smoking) and maybe make them harsher. Because like alcohol, … if you get caught, there are going to be harsh consequences.” Rebellion: “You just underestimate us. There’s a way we’re going to get around it.”

  18. Next Steps • Tobacco control needs to become a priority for college administrators. • Policies need to be clearly defined, conveyed, and implemented. • Resources need to be allocated to enforce policies. • Effective services need to be offered to smokers.

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