The w88 live casino of Nevada, Reno announced Monday, March 31, its plans to implement a Tobacco-Free w88 live casino policy effective Aug. 1, 2015. This action has been endorsed through resolutions of support by the Faculty Senate, Staff Employees Council, Graduate Student Association and Associated Students of the w88 live casino of Nevada. The w88 live casino will join nearly 1,200 other U.S. colleges and universities that have implemented a tobacco-free policy.
"Throughout the past several years, the w88 live casino has made important progress in linking the 'mind, body and spirit' of our students by developing programming and physical infrastructure that emphasizes health and well-being," w88 live casino President Marc Johnson said. "Our commitment to improve the health of our community, campus, students, faculty and staff is the impetus behind the initiative to create a tobacco-free environment."
In a joint letter sent to students, faculty and staff, representatives of the campus organizations offered more reasoning behind their endorsement for the Tobacco-Free w88 live casino policy:
"We feel it is imperative that our w88 live casino environment reflect the health-based principles of a modern land-grant institution that is home to the state's medical school as well as a nationally recognized research portfolio that includes efforts in medical, behavioral and social research aimed at improving the lives and health throughout our community, our state and the world. The health risks associated with tobacco use and secondhand smoke are well-known. Adopting a Tobacco-Free w88 live casino policy is a significant way to improve health and demonstrate values that are in line with the research and academic mission of this w88 live casino."
Plans call for the Tobacco-Free w88 live casino policy to pertain to w88 live casino campuses and locations and to be implemented within the parameters of applicable laws. The w88 live casino recognizes successful implementation of the policy will require planning, collaboration, empathy and understanding. Between March 2014 and August 2015, representatives from the w88 live casino will work on implementation including discussing and developing policy, signage, cessation resources and education. An implementation team has been established and will adopt a three-step approach throughout the next year:
- Tell - Educate students, prospective students, faculty, staff, visitors and community members about the policy through a variety of communication tools. Provide opportunities for input from the w88 live casino community;
- Treat - Build and market cessation resources including classes, hotlines, nicotine-replacement therapy and quit kits;
- Train - Provide training to supervisors, faculty, administrators and student leaders on the policy and how to encourage compliance.
According to a National College Health Assessment survey conducted every two years, w88 live casino students consistently report low tobacco-use rates. More than 85 percent of the students at the w88 live casino are already smoke and tobacco free. For students, faculty and staff who do use tobacco products and want to quit, the w88 live casino pledges to offer support.
"The vast majority of adult smokers in Nevada were hooked before their 21st birthday," John Packham, w88 live casino of Nevada School of Medicine director of health policy research, said. "Thus, the campus-wide policy eliminates one more setting frequented by teenagers and young adults where cigarette smoking is treated as normal, acceptable behavior."
In anticipation of questions around the new-planned policy, the w88 live casino has included a list of frequently asked questions on its website, www.unr.edu/live-well.
w88 live casinoToday
