NW Clark News

University of Nevada Las  Vegas recently issued the following announcement.

On Aug. 15, 2022 - in time for the Fall 2022 semester - UNLV will join approximately 2,000 universities across the country that have become smoke-free campuses. 

Led by the UNLV School of Public Health in collaboration with the Southern Nevada Health District, American Lung Association, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Nevada Public Health Association and the Nevada Tobacco Prevention Coalition, this policy will apply to students, faculty, staff and visitors on all UNLV properties. This includes UNLV’s Maryland Parkway, Shadow Lane and Paradise campuses Thomas & Mack Center, and all other buildings or facilities owned, operated, leased, occupied or controlled by UNLV in the state of Nevada. 

“This policy is long overdue, and we are proud that it will finally go into effect,” said Shawn Gerstenberger, dean of the UNLV School of Public Health. “We are grateful for the support of UNLV leadership and our community partners, and we are confident that this is a step in the right direction to providing a cleaner and healthier living, learning, and working environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors.”

The smoke-free and tobacco-free campus policy was approved by UNLV’s University Policy Committee in September 2021 following a campus review and comment period. This policy will be in place for the Fall 2022 semester and prohibit all forms of smoking, tobacco use, marijuana use, and unregulated nicotine products including, but not limited to:

• Cigarettes, cigars (commercially or self-rolled)
• Pipes, hookahs, water pipes
• Electronic cigarettes
• Vape pens
• Bidis, Kreteks
• Smokeless tobacco (e.g., snuff, snus, chew)
• Cannabis / marijuana in all forms

“The Southern Nevada Health District fully supports UNLV’s decision to become a smoke-free campus. It contributes to a healthier learning and working environment for students and staff. As Southern Nevada continues to add more and more smoke-free spaces, our neighbors, friends and colleagues are more likely to enjoy a healthier environment,” said Fermin Leguen, District Health Officer for the Southern Nevada Health District.

While UNLV is not requiring that people quit smoking or using tobacco products, the university is committed to supporting all those who wish to quit. Assistance to overcome addiction to tobacco products is available. Individuals are encouraged to get help through the Nevada Tobacco Quitline by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or by visiting nevada.quitlogix.org.

"By becoming a smoke-free, vape-free, and tobacco-free campus, those at UNLV will be protected from involuntary exposure to tobacco and passive smoke," said Gerstenberger. "It will also establish a supportive atmosphere for those trying to quit tobacco, and create a culture of wellness for the campus community."

Original source can be found here.