The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is implementing a complete ban on all tobacco products on its grounds, joining a growing number of schools that are inching towards becoming tobacco-free campuses.
The university has banned all forms of tobacco, including chewing tobacco, snuff, snus and dissolvable forms such as orbs and strips while vaping devices such as e-cigarettes and Juuls are also prohibited.
The ban is applicable both indoors and outdoors and is imposed on the whole university community including students, faculty members, staff, contracted employees and visitors.
Those breaking the regulation would be warned for the first time and subsequently fined between $25 for the second ticket to $100 each for subsequent tickets.
“We are updating this policy to strengthen our Illinois commitment to promoting healthy lifestyles,” Chancellor Robert Jones said. “I ask everyone to respect our new policy to create a healthy environment for our entire university community.”
The campus is also offering tobacco-cessation programs through its McKinley Health Center and Campus Wellbeing Services.
A recent study by the University of Michigan found that drugs use by college students is witnessing an upward trend. Most students reported using Marijuana. Overall, the report noticed a decline in the use of OxyContin and Vicodin, amphetamines, MDMA, alcohol and cigarettes.
Last year, the University of Arizona’s Cancer Center received a grant from the National Cancer Institute Cancer Moonshot Initiative to supplement the individual efforts of quitting tobacco use, which includes counseling and cessation.
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