Pacific Health campus combats student's smoking with new policy
Kelly McGee
Issue date: 5/14/09 Section: News
Smoking-related illnesses claim more American lives than alcohol, car accidents, suicide, AIDS, homicide and illegal drugs combined, and Pacific University's College of Health Professions Campus in Hillsboro is doing their part to change this statistic.
The dangers of smoking are common knowledge, as anti-smoking advertisements are beginning to replace those that used to promote it. But it is easy to let that information go in one ear and out the other, and the Health Professions Campus is going one step further to encourage quitting by going tobacco free.
On May 1, the Health Professions Campus instituted a tobacco-free policy which prohibits the use of any tobacco products in and around the campus. This policy not only applies to students and Pacific University employees, but also to patients, visitors, and Virginia Garcia employees.
The CHP Campus Tobacco-Free Committee says that they are not asking students and employees of the Health Professions Campus and Virginia Garcia to quit tobacco, but are only encouraging them to refrain from using tobacco products while at work or school. In order to assist with those who are refraining from or quitting tobacco, they are prepared to offer free counseling and educational programs. As some may experience extreme withdrawals, they may also prescribe medications to coincide with the other programs offered.
Since patients and visitors will also be required to follow the new policy, support services will be available to them while they are on campus.
A "Wellness Table" was set up in the lobby of the building the week prior to the implementation of the new policy in order to educate the campus community of the new policy, as well as information on healthy living and tips on how to refrain from tobacco use.
The dangers of smoking are common knowledge, as anti-smoking advertisements are beginning to replace those that used to promote it. But it is easy to let that information go in one ear and out the other, and the Health Professions Campus is going one step further to encourage quitting by going tobacco free.
On May 1, the Health Professions Campus instituted a tobacco-free policy which prohibits the use of any tobacco products in and around the campus. This policy not only applies to students and Pacific University employees, but also to patients, visitors, and Virginia Garcia employees.
The CHP Campus Tobacco-Free Committee says that they are not asking students and employees of the Health Professions Campus and Virginia Garcia to quit tobacco, but are only encouraging them to refrain from using tobacco products while at work or school. In order to assist with those who are refraining from or quitting tobacco, they are prepared to offer free counseling and educational programs. As some may experience extreme withdrawals, they may also prescribe medications to coincide with the other programs offered.
Since patients and visitors will also be required to follow the new policy, support services will be available to them while they are on campus.
A "Wellness Table" was set up in the lobby of the building the week prior to the implementation of the new policy in order to educate the campus community of the new policy, as well as information on healthy living and tips on how to refrain from tobacco use.
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