Indian River State College (IRSC) recently announced it is officially a tobacco free campus. Since Aug. 1, 2017, IRSC policy makes the College a tobacco free and smoke free Campus prohibiting smoking and the use of smokeless tobacco products at all IRSC facilities and campuses. IRSC joins 25-other college and university campuses in Florida that are 100% tobacco free.

As part of IRSC Tobacco Free initiative, the College is now offering “Tools to Quit” Smoking Cessation classes for students and employees. For more information on class schedules visit irsc.edu/tobaccofree or call 772-462-7825.

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.According to the U.S. Surgeon General, there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.

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.Big Tobacco knows they need to recruit young people so that they don't go out of business and they spend nearly $1 million an hour on marketing to make sure that doesn't happen.

Tobacco is not just a concern of years past, but is also a public health issue for this new generation. We want to congratulate Indian River State College for becoming a tobacco free
campus and taking a stand against Big Tobacco.

To learn more, visit:tobaccofreeflorida.com/colleges.