The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, announced in early February that in order to continue receiving grants, institutions, including the University of Texas, must become tobacco-free by March 1, 2012. Now, members of the UT community must wait for the metaphorical, and, appropriately, physical, smoke to clear regarding whether or not the university will adopt the policy and secure millions of dollars that are currently appropriated for cancer-related research.
According to data available on the CPRIT website, the University of Texas has received a cumulative total of more than $30 million in grants that have funded cancer prevention and treatment research. Additionally, the university is eligible to receive $88 million in grants to further research efforts.
According to the Live Tobacco Free Austin campaign, a function of the Austin Tobacco Prevention and Control Coalition, more than one in six adults in Travis County smoke or use other tobacco products. Furthermore, tobacco-related deaths total higher than deaths related to AIDS, crack, heroin, cocaine, alcohol, car accidents, fire, suicide, and murder combined, totaling an average of 11 people a week in Travis County in 2001.
Dr. Philip Huang, medical director for the Austin-Travis County Health and Human Services Department, said that because these deaths are almost completely preventable, he believes a tobacco-free campus is necessary to help lower those statistics.
“It’s the right thing to do to create a positive health environment, and a more positive environment in general for the students, staff, and faculty,” Huang said. “Some of the highest smoking rates are among youth ages 18 to 24, and if we create a climate where it is just not the norm, that will help people who want to quit to quit, and also help people who might have started smoking to not start.”
The University Health Services already provides several means to help students and staff quit tobacco use, including the Quitters Cessation program through the Counseling and Medical Health Center. Additionally, the university offers lowered copays for nicotine replacement therapy and pharmaceuticals through the UT Select Prescription drug plan.
Susan Hochman, manager of the UT Health Promotion Resource Center, could not comment on the proposed policy change, but said that she believes the current support given to students and faculty who want to quit is positive.
“Our office is involved in the prevention side, in terms of helping people to not start smoking and helping people who do smoke,” Hochman said. “We are involved with ensuring that resources and services are provided to support students in case they do want to quit.”
The City of Austin already has implemented a smoke-free policy in restaurants and city parks, and as of Jan. 16, 2012, tobacco use is prohibited at CapMetro-owned bus stops and transit centers. Additionally, all Austin Community College campuses and Huston-Tillotson University in Austin have recently become tobacco-free.
Eva Valilis, a public health sophomore and member of the Texas Public Health student organization, said that she believes a university ban on tobacco products will make the campus a safer place for smokers and non-smokers alike.
“Texas Public Health has been promoting a ban on tobacco use on campus for nearly a year by reaching out to faculty and students,” Valilis said. “A tobacco-free campus will not only reduce the harmful effects of second hand smoking, but also force smokers to limit their tobacco use and hopefully motivate them to quit altogether.”
| source: City of Austin |
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