AVE MARIA – The Ave Maria School of Law recently announced their tobacco free campus initiative, which will go into effect in summer of 2022. The policy will create an atmosphere of wellness on the campus and be a supportive setting for those trying to quit tobacco.

With this policy, Ave Maria School of Law will join the growing list of southwest Florida universities that have adopted tobacco free campus policies. These universities include Florida Southwestern State College, Hodges University, and Florida Gulf Coast University.

Research shows that tobacco-free campus policies are effective. These policies reduce exposure to secondhand smoke, significantly change attitudes toward tobacco, and contribute to a decline in cigarette smoking prevalence.

A tobacco-free campus policy protects students, faculty and staff from involuntary exposure to secondhand smoke, which is a deadly mix of 7,000 chemicals, at least 250 that are toxic and about 70 can cause cancer.2 According to the U.S. Surgeon General, there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.3

Not only does a tobacco-free campus policy benefit the health of students, it also helps change social norms and sends a clear message that tobacco use is unacceptable.

Every day, 1,300 people in the United States die because of cigarette smoking.4 Big Tobacco knows they need to recruit young people so that they do not go out of business and they spend nearly $1 million an hour on marketing to make sure that doesn’t happen.5

Tobacco is not just a concern of years past but is also a public health issue for this new generation. We want to congratulate Ave Mara School of Law on taking the necessary steps towards becoming a tobacco free campus and taking a stand against Big Tobacco.

To learn more, visit tobaccofreeflorida.com/colleges.

About Tobacco Free Florida

The department’s Tobacco Free Florida campaign is a statewide cessation and prevention campaign funded by Florida’s tobacco settlement fund. Since the program began in 2007, more than 254,000 Floridians have successfully quit using one of Tobacco Free Florida’s free tools and services. There are now approximately 451,000 fewer adult smokers in Florida than there was 10 years ago, and the state has saved $17.7 billion in health care costs. To learn more about Tobacco Free Florida’s Quit Your Way services, visit www.tobaccofreeflorida.com or follow the campaign on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TobaccoFreeFlorida or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/tobaccofreefla.

About the Florida Department of Health
The Florida Department of Health, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts. For more information please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.