A review of undergraduate university tobacco control policy process in Canada.
The college years occur during the stage of life when many people develop permanent smoking habits, and approximately one-third go on to become addicted smokers. The 18-24 year demographic that makes up the majority of undergraduate attendees represents the earliest years that the tobacco industry now can legally attempt to lure new customers into smoking. This research investigated the ways in which university tobacco control policies are developed, introduced to students, faculty and staff and how they are implemented and enforced. Findings show that tobacco control initiatives at Canadian undergraduate universities face a wide range of challenges including a lack of dedicated and consistent tobacco control personnel, ownership issues, funding, enforcement and monitoring dilemmas. Participants also reported that the layout and geographic location of the campus can result in difficulties in implementation. Consequently, it appears that there may be a growing, although inadvertent, tolerance for smoking on Canadian campuses.
Baillie
Lynne
L
Department of Prevention, British Columbia Cancer Agency Centre for the Southern Interior, 399 Royal Avenue, Kelowna, British Columbia V1Y 5L3, Canada. lbaillie@bccancer.bc.ca
Callaghan
Doris
D
Smith
Michelle
M
Bottorff
Joan
J
Bassett-Smith
Joan
J
Budgen
Claire
C
Federsen
Melissa
M
D000293:Adolescent; D002170:Canada; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016134:Organizational Policy; D011050:Policy Making; D012907:Smoking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult