Starting this fall, smoking and the use of tobacco products will be a thing of the past on the campus of Nevada State University. In a move mirroring that of its higher education compatriots, UNLV and the University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada State University has announced the adoption of a comprehensive tobacco-free policy that will take effect August 25, the first day of the new semester. The policy, championed by Nevada State University leadership, targets cigarettes, cigars, pipes, electronic smoking devices and chewing tobacco – and extends to cannabis, which is also prohibited in any form, as reported by News3LV.
According to the Southern Nevada Health District, Dr. Cassius Lockett, the district health officer, backed the university by stating, "This step promotes a healthier learning and working environment and helps build a culture of wellness across Southern Nevada." These rules are not limited, having been approved by the university, to just students and faculty but will include visitors, applying as well to outdoor spaces, sidewalks, parking lots, even extending to university-owned or leased vehicles.
The Breathe with Ease team, a facet of NSU's Sustainability Council, led the initiative. They worked in conjunction with the Southern Nevada Health District, Truth Initiative, and a whole slew of campus and community partners to ensure a seamless and health-conscious transition. As per a statement obtained by News3LV, NSU is dedicated to helping individuals wishing to quit, providing free cessation resources through the Nevada Tobacco Quitline, even though quitting is not a requirement of the policy.
Dr. Seseer Mou-Danha, leader of the Breathe with Ease Team, detailed their progress, telling the Southern Nevada Health District, "I am proud of the impactful initiatives the Breathe with Ease team and stakeholders at Nevada State University have accomplished, especially in regard to implementing the no smoking on campus policy and infrastructural changes to support the policy." With these changes in motion, NSU aims to foster a healthier environment for its campus community that aligns with its mission.
