Smoke-free

At the request of the College Senate, SUNY Buffalo State adopted a smoke-free campus policy.  Implementation of the new policy was assigned to a campus implementation committee reporting to the vice president for student affairs.  Initially, advertising, informational tables and meetings with constituent groups helped create awareness of the policy.  Buffalo State’s smoke free campus campaign has entered a more visible public awareness phase. Awareness efforts will be enhanced through open forums, a smoke free ambassador outreach efforts and increased signage starting with the fall semester.

Buffalo State’s smoke-free policy was adopted by the College Senate in May 2011 and went into effect when accepted by the administration on September 1, 2011.

Buffalo State's Decision to Go Smoke-free

Buffalo State has revised its smoke policy to provide a healthy and safe environment for employees, students and visitors, and to promote positive health behaviors.  The policy does not intend to make tobacco users quit; rather, it intends to prevent individuals from using tobacco products on campus property, where others become exposed to tobacco’s adverse effects.

The university seeks to provide a clean and healthy environment for all students, employees and visitors. The smoke-free campus policy will:

• Protect people from unwanted and involuntary exposure to tobacco and passive smoke;
• Promote cessation and create a supporting environment for those who are trying to quit tobacco;
• Create a cleaner living, learning and working environment.

According to the CDC, tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., killing an estimated 443,000 Americans annually while many others die from exposure to secondhand smoke and smokeless tobacco. The CDC estimates that between one third and one half of all smokers will die from their addiction to tobacco. Multiple studies affirm that there are no safe levels of exposure to secondhand smoke, including outdoor smoke.

A smoke-free policy sends a consistent health message by not implying that one form of tobacco is safe. There are no safe forms or levels of tobacco use. The policy promotes and protects the health of all campus members, users and non-users alike.

The use of tobacco will be prohibited on all campus grounds, including student housing. Smoking zones and perimeter policies have not been found to be effective (or enforceable) and smoking shelters are expensive to construct and maintain. Campuses with full smoke-free policies have reported fewer problems with compliance than policies that include smoking areas.

All events occurring on campus or on campus-property will be covered by the smoke-free policy. Signage, electronic and printed notices will be provided to visitors at games and events to make sure everyone is clearly informed about the policy.

The policy applies to every person who comes to Buffalo State, including visitors, faculty, staff, volunteers, students, contractors, and service representatives. Buffalo State employees and students will be trained how to talk about the policy in positive ways that are respectful of others.

We are not saying you must quit using tobacco. But we are saying you cannot use tobacco while you are on College property. If you are ready to quit, we want to support your efforts

Tobacco products include, but are not limited to:

• Cigarettes
• E-cigarettes
• Chew 
• Pipes
• Cigars 
• Hookah or waterpipe smoking
• Snuff
• Snus vapes 
• Marijuana

Smokeless Tobacco

Establishing a comprehensive policy that includes all forms of tobacco has better health outcomes, is more equitable, and easier to enforce. The policy consistently addresses health issues, because there is no safe form of tobacco. Chewing tobacco, e-cigarettes and snuff contain cancer-causing agents and can lead to hypertension. In addition, smokeless tobacco use often creates unwanted and sometimes hazardous waste and byproducts that can be spilled both outdoors and indoors. These spills create more cleanup work for campus maintenance staff and harm the environment.

Smokeless tobacco contains at least 28 cancer-causing agents, and the amount of nicotine absorbed from spit tobacco is 3 to 4 times the amount delivered by cigarettes.

Smokeless tobacco can lead to oral cancers, gum disease and increased nicotine addiction (U.S. Surgeon General). Snuff and Snus have been found to increase the risk of cancer, stroke and fatal cardiovascular disease (The International Agency for Research on Cancer).

While marketing of cigarettes is on the decline, marketing of smokeless products has risen 400% in the last 20 years (FTC). Marketing of smokeless tobacco products target youth by associating the product with sports and adventure activities, implying that use is part of a healthy lifestyle.

Smoke-free policies are now a national standard for college campuses, advocated by major health agencies.

E-cigarettes

The policy prohibits all forms of tobacco and any nicotine delivery device that has not been approved by the FDA for cessation (the FDA has the authority to regulate e-cigarettes as a “tobacco product” under the Tobacco Control Act). National health agencies remain skeptical of the safety of these devices due to a lack of scientific data. Until FDA approval is granted, these will not be allowed on campus, which is consistent with national standards and guidelines.

The policy governs use of tobacco products, not possession of tobacco products.

Questions or concerns about the Smoke-Free Policy?

Your opinion and feedback are very important to us, and we want to help you understand the policy and answer any questions you may have. 

Contact the Dean of Students
Phone: (716) 878-4618
Email: deanofstudents@buffalostate.edu

Violations of the Smoke-free Policy

Employees and students are required to comply with college policies. It is our hope that all who uses tobacco would comply with the policy out of respect for others and the environment. In voluntarily complying, employees and students help Buffalo State be a welcoming community for the thousands of students and visitors we serve each year. By eliminating tobacco use from our property, Buffalo State is sending a powerful message about the harm tobacco use causes for people and the environment.

Efforts will be made to ensure that faculty, staff, students and visitors are aware of the policy. Responsibility for complying with the policy rests first and foremost with the individual.

Complying with the Smoke-free Policy

Civility and respect for others are what guide us in establishing and maintaining a smoke-free campus. While this policy may be difficult for tobacco users at first, we hope that all members of the college community will respect each other and the environment.

Policy Violators

Violators will receive a friendly reminder, along with cessation information. A recent study of tobacco-free campuses found that most campus members respect the policy once they are informed.

We discourage smoking inside personal vehicles for reasons of personal health.  Evidence suggests a much higher incidence of health problems resulting from prolonged smoking inside confined spaces.

The university will not enforce the tobacco policy inside individual, personal vehicles parked on university property. It will be the vehicle owner's responsibility to reasonably contain the smoke inside their vehicle while parked on campus. This does not include university-owned vehicles, which are included in the policy.

A smoke-free campus policy is not a violation of an individual's civil rights. There is no state or federal law that provides a "right" to smoke or use tobacco. In addition, the University has the authority to govern and regulate the use of its facilities and properties.

There is also no “right” to use tobacco under either state or federal law.  Additionally, court rulings maintain that smokers do not have the legal right to expose others to secondhand smoke, a Class-A carcinogen, and they are not entitled to protection against discrimination as “addicts” or as “disabled persons.”

Establishing a smoke-free campus preserves everyone's right to breathe smoke-free air in a cleaner campus environment, while allowing adults who choose to use tobacco to continue to do so off-campus. Buffalo State’s policy is based upon respect for others and for the environment, and supports the rights and privileges of both tobacco users and non-users alike.

Tobacco use is a legal product for adults. However, the university owns campus property and can establish policies that protect the health of all campus members. A smoke-free policy does not prohibit tobacco use; the policy merely establishes where use can occur.

Weigel Health Center offers a variety of training opportunities tailored to university students, faculty and staff. Such training opportunities include, but are not limited to cessation education and counseling, policy enforcement, and student advocacy. 

You say the reason for the policy is respect for others but you aren't respecting smokers. How is that right?

Buffalo State aims to balance the rights of the person using tobacco with the rights of the person who doesn't want to be exposed to the effects of tobacco use. We have carefully considered the issues, including the impact on health and our environment. When you consider tobacco users are outnumbered by non-users by around 4:1, the history of many tobacco users discarding their tobacco litter indiscriminately, our strong desire to help employees and students interested in quitting their tobacco use, and the message we are sending about the negative impact of tobacco use to all who come to Buffalo State, the justification for the policy is clear. Our objective is to have policies that create the best work environment possible. Tobacco use desecrates the environment and harms people. It is completely consistent with our mission to eliminate tobacco use from our property, but we will do so with respect for everyone, including tobacco users.

If You See Someone Using Tobacco on Campus

The policy will best be enforced by everyone taking an active role in informing people that a smoke-free policy is in effect. A large majority of Buffalo State students and employees support a smoke-free environment, so it is appropriate for you to speak up.

Members of the campus community who see individuals using tobacco on campus grounds are asked to inform these individuals politely that college policy prohibits tobacco use anywhere on campus grounds.  Faculty and staff who do not feel comfortable approaching someone violating the policy should contact their immediate supervisor or department head. We expect all members of the College community to treat each other with dignity and respect, support each other, and embrace a spirit of having a healthy living, learning, and working environment.

You Can Report Violators
Contact the Dean of Students
Phone: (716) 878-4618
Email: deanofstudents@buffalostate.edu

Responding to Aggressive Individuals

Do not continue to speak to anyone who becomes angry or confrontational. Simply walk away.

Helpful messages you can use when you see someone violating the policy:

Example #1:
Situation: You see a person using tobacco products on College property.

Response: "Hello, my name is _______, and I am an (employee, student) here at     Buffalo State. I want to make you aware that we are now a Smoke-Free campus, meaning that tobacco products are prohibited on our grounds. We would appreciate if you would not use tobacco products while visiting our campus. Thank you for your cooperation."

Example #2:
Question: "Where am I allowed to smoke?"

Response: "Smoking and other tobacco products are not allowed anywhere on campus. This is a new policy, meant to promote better health in our students, faculty and staff. If you need to smoke or use tobacco products you will need to leave the campus. If you are interested in quitting smoking you can attend one of the cessation programs held on campus or call the NY State Smokers' Quitline (give card with information)

Example #3:
For Vendors and Visitors: "I'd like to let you know in advance that Buffalo State’s campus is a Smoke-Free environment. Use of tobacco products will not be permitted on any property, grounds, or parking areas. Thank you for respecting our policy."

Clinical: Contact Weigel Health Center at (716) 878-6711.

Counseling: Contact The Counseling Center
Phone: (716) 878-4436
Website:  The Counseling Center

As a group or individually, counseling can be helpful in coping with the stress and apprehension over quitting and identifying triggers that increase the risk of relapse. You can visit the Counseling Center on campus, located in the Weigel Health Center building on the second floor.

Medications That May Help
The Weigel Health Center can discuss these options with you and help you decide which option may be best for you. At times the health center has free Nicotine replacement samples available for trial.

It is important to understand that relapse is common when attempting to quit smoking, because of the addictive potential of cigarettes, so if you have tried to quit before without success, don’t give up!  This can be one of the best decisions you can make for yourself and your health.

• Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)
• Aids available in gum, inhaler, lozenge, nasal spray and patch format
  • Zyban (Buproprion SR)
  • Chantix (Varenicline)

Are you a smoker who is ready to or is interested in quitting?

Facts about Smoking

• Smoking increases your risk of developing cancers including lung, mouth, throat, bladder, stomach, kidney, and the cervix.
• Heart disease and stroke are caused by the nicotine and carbon monoxide in tobacco smoke.
• Emphysema and chronic bronchitis caused by smoking can make it very difficult to breathe.
• Smokers are more likely to get colds and the flu, have gum disease, have trouble getting pregnant, or become impotent.

Think about the amount of money you will save what else you could use it for.

• Smoking a ½ pack a day ($13/pack) you would spend $195
• Smoking a pack a day ($13/pack) you would spend $390.

Quitting By the Numbers

• 20 minutes after quitting: Your heart rate and blood pressure drop.
• 12 hours after quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your body drops to normal levels.
• 2 weeks–3 months afterwards: Your circulation and lung function improve.
• 1–9 months after quitting: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease; 
• 1 year after quitting: The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of smokers and 15 years later, it equals that of nonsmokers.
• 5–15 years later: Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker; 10 years later the lung cancer death rate is half that of a continuing smoker.

Smoke-free policies have been shown to encourage people to quit. These policies also support those who are trying to quit.

The New York Quitline 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) provides individual coaching and free or low-cost cessation support, including nicotine replacement therapies and prescription drugs.

NY State Smokers' Quitline: (866) 697-8487

Smokefree Women

Smokefree Women on Facebook 
"This Facebook page was created to engage women and their social networks in the conversation on smoking cessation. The Smokefree Women Facebook page is meant to serve as a virtual support community and provides tobacco-related health information from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to encourage members to lead healthier, smokefree, lives."

Text Messages
Quitting, using your phone, on your terms.
Smokefree TXT    

Smoke-free Smartphone Applications
QuitGuide App