Staff and students at CCU prepare for launch of tobacco-free policy

Coastal Carolina University is gearing up for the official launch of its tobacco-free initiative Aug. 1, but the new policy began changing lives soon after it was announced in January.

Deborah Hardee, an administrative assistant in counseling services, took advantage of the pilot smoking-cessation program offered to faculty and staff in the spring and kicked the habit March 20. The program is one of the resources being made available to those on campus to help them comply with the new policy, which is part of the LiveWell @ CCU program to promote overall health at the university.

Im so proud of myself, said Hardee, a smoker for more than 30 years who had tried to quit several times before. It is probably one of my biggest accomplishments.

CCU is following a national trend among colleges and universities to take their campuses smoke-free or tobacco-free. Most of the feedback from students and staff has been positive, although some diehard smokers say they will continue to smoke, just not on university property.

At least 1,343 U.S. colleges and universities have 100 percent smoke-free campuses, and 925 of those 100 percent tobacco-free, according to the American Nonsmokers Rights Foundation. The foundation lists 22 smoke-free campuses in South Carolina, with the majority of those also tobacco-free. The University of South Carolina is on the smoke-free list but moved to tobacco-free status Jan. 1, while the College of Charleston, which is not on the list, will go tobacco-free July 1.

Tobacco-free means no cigarettes or smoke-related products, including cigars and chewing tobacco, and while a person may be in possession of those products, they are not allowed to use them, even in their vehicles. CCUs policy also will prohibit the use of e-cigarettes, which are not allowed anywhere on 167 campuses that made the foundations list. University officials say the U.S. Food and Drug Administration still consider e-cigarettes tobacco products because of the nicotine levels they produce.

CCU has taken steps to help students and employees adjust to the new policy. A website has been created, http://www.coastal.edu/livewell, that answers questions and lists available resources, while the I Quit program, which has instructors certified through the American Lung Association, will be available to faculty, staff and students in the fall.

Hardee was in the eight-week program, one of three who graduated out of six who signed up. Lamonica Yates, director of training and employee services, said 50 percent is considered a success in smoking-cessation programs, and the classes are small so participants can bond and support each other.

Im not going to lie it was very difficult, but this was a way [for the university] to support the staff, and I thought, This is it. This is my way to quit, said Hardee, who said she is now breathing and feeling better. I never thought Id be one of those people who say, If I can do it, you can do it, but I really believe if I can do it, you can do it.

Some smokers on staff say they werent surprised by the new policy, but that doesnt mean they have to like it. And there always is the possibility they too will try to quit.

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Staff and students at CCU prepare for launch of tobacco-free policy