Facts and Statistics 

According to the CDC, tobacco use is responsible for about 1 in 5 deaths annually (CDC, 2018).

Nearly every organ of the human body can be damaged by smoking. Tobacco use can lead to a lot of diseases, as well as worsen the health conditions of it users (CDC).

Nearly 50% of users died of tobacco use (WHO).

In 2017, more than 2,082 college and university campuses in the United States have become smoke-free (CDC, 2017).

American University (AU) went smoke free since 2013. 

Health Risks associated with tobacco use can include, but not limited to, heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, respiratory disease, and cancer (CDC).

Tobacco use can increase the risks of:

2-4 times: coronary heart disease and stroke 

12-13 times: COPD 

~25 times: lung cancer  

1/3 cancer deaths in the US would not happen if nobody smoked

*Light smoking (1-4 cigarettes /day) can significantly increase risks of diseases among smokers (Harvard Health Publishing, 2012). 

Harm Reduction

The risks of developing tobacco-related diseases drop sharply within years of quitting.

Restrictions on public smoking can reduce the adverse health effects of both smoking and second-hand smoke effectively.

Bans on tobacco advertisement and increase taxes can play important roles in reducing tobacco use.

Using health-beneficial strategies to deal with stress instead of smoking

Say no to tobacco products during social occasions

Policies

The University Policy prohibits the use of tobacco products on every property owned by AU, in which the policy applies to students, faculty, stuff, vendors, guests, and contractors (American University Tobacco- and Smoke-Free Policy).

*American University Tobacco- and Smoke-Free Policy: https://www.american.edu/policies/upload/tobacco-and-smoke-free-policy.pdf