Smoke-free policy as a means to improving college students' academic performance

Background: According to the American College Health Association's National College Health Assessment (NCHA), depression and anxiety disorders are among the top five obstacles to college students' academic performance; 29.6% of college students felt so depressed at some point in the past 12 months that it impaired their ability to function regularly. A recent study found that tobacco smoking was a predictor of persistent depression; 28.8% of NCHA respondents reported using tobacco, with 13.8% having used tobacco within the past 30 days. Methods: The first four phases of the PRECEDE-PROCEED model were used to explore the relationship between college students' academic performance, depression and anxiety disorders, tobacco use, and the enactment of 100% smoke-free laws. Results: Enacting 100% smoke-free laws would reduce the number of regular tobacco users among college students. This, in turn, would reduce the prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders among this population. As a result, college students' academic performance would improve and raise their overall quality of life. As a case study, the current tobacco policy in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is analyzed and a health intervention is developed detailing necessary steps to enact a 100% smoke-free ordinance in the area. Discussion: This study recommends enacting 100% smoke-free laws nationwide in order to maximize reductions in regular tobacco use and depression and anxiety disorders among college students; thereby maximizing improvement in academic performance and overall quality of life.