Tobacco use and policy on college campuses: A review with a focus on special problems in Nevada

Context: Nevada has high smoking-attributed mortality. Tobacco companies target consumers aged 18-24. Tobacco companies are creating various new smokeless products and cigarette alternatives. Previous studies of college campuses have focused on students but not other staff and personnel, and not on tobacco alternatives to cigarettes. Nevada enacted a new indoor air law in 2006.

Objective: To assess the need for any additional tobacco control policy on Nevada college campuses, and to determine any barriers to new policy.

Methods: Qualitative policy analysis, including a systematic literature review to ascertain the best practices for tobacco control on college campuses. We examined the current policy at the two largest Nevada universities. We observed campus buildings for signage and smoking. We searched for key tobacco control actors.

Results: We identified 20 specific goals for tobacco control policy on college campuses. We found the policy on two campuses to satisfy only a few of these criteria. We began to organize a tobacco control network on one campus. We found hookah smoking to be a risk for college students in Reno. We found smoking in doorways to be a point of confusion in absence of legal requirements.

Conclusion: Campuses should improve education programs, communication of outdoor restrictions, remove ashtrays, and develop a stronger tobacco control network. A total outdoor smoke-free policy on college campuses would greatly protect public health. We plan to survey tobacco use on campus in conjunction with students and inclusive of faculty and staff, two campus groups not studied in the literature.