Campus Life

Texas A&M Tobacco-Free Policy Fact Sheet

The tobacco-free policy begins Jan. 1, 2020 for all Texas A&M University campuses and other college sites.
By Jay Maddock, Texas A&M University School of Public Health December 10, 2019

WHY SHOULD TOBACCO BE BANNED AT TEXAS A&M?
About 480,000 people die from smoking each year in the United States and almost all of them started smoking before the age of 26. In addition, 41,000 deaths occur from second-hand smoke every year. Research shows that people are more likely to quit smoking if they live and work in an area where smoking is not allowed. Also effective September 1, 2019, the State of Texas raised the smoking and e-cigarette age to 21 for anyone born after August 31, 2001. This will make the use of tobacco against the law for most Texas A&M students within a few years.

In addition to causing direct health hazards, smoking and smokeless tobacco use contribute to institutional costs associated with employee and student absenteeism, health care and increased medical insurance, increased fire risk and environmental impact, and cleaning and maintenance costs. A tobacco -free campus also has less waste from cigarettes butts and vaping cartridges and reduces maintenance costs. This policy reflects our commitment to the health and well-being of all Aggies.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I SEE SOMEONE SMOKING OR VAPING ON CAMPUS?
You may want to choose from the following options:

  • Remind the person that Texas A&M is a smoke-free and tobacco-free campus
  • Kindly request the person to stop smoking
  • Inform the person that there are cessation support resources on campus and in the community to help people quit, including the Office of Health Promotion and the Texas Tobacco Quitline.

HOW CAN I GET HELP IN QUITTING SMOKING OR VAPING?

EVERYBODY
Texas Tobacco Quitline: Free Resource to help All Texans quit smoking either by phone or online: 1-877-YES-QUIT or yesquit.org.

STUDENTS
The Office of Health Promotion has a variety of resources to help students quit vaping or smoking (studentlife.tamu.edu/hp).

EMPLOYEES

Our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers free counseling to help quit using tobacco and other products (employees.tamu.edu/eap/appointments).
The Brazos Valley Council of Alcohol and Substance Abuse also provides free cessation counseling for faculty and staff (wellnessworks.tamu.edu/physical/tobacco-cessation/bvcasa).

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT AREAS OF CAMPUS WILL BE SMOKE AND TOBACCO-FREE?
This initiative covers all campus areas of Texas A&M including all Health Science Center sites, Galveston, McAllen, Qatar
and other college sites.

IS THIS A NEW IDEA? DO OTHER CAMPUSES DO THIS?
As of July 1, 2019, more than 2,375 campuses were 100% smoke-free including all public universities in Arkansas, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa and Louisiana.

IS VAPING OR CHEWING TOBACCO STILL ALLOWED?
No, all forms of smoking, tobacco use and other nicotine delivery products are included. This includes but is not limited to:
• Cigarettes, cigars, pipes
• Hookahs and water pipes
• Electronic cigarettes and vape pens
• Bidis, Kreteks
• Smokeless tobacco including chew and snuff

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Media contact: Lesley Henton, 979-845-5591, lshenton@tamu.edu.

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