Health Sciences Smoke-Free Initiative

To promote health and disease prevention, all Health Sciences academic and Medical Center campuses are beginning a smoke-free pilot project.

Since late September 2009, UCSD Health Sciences has prohibited smoking in all its buildings and outdoor areas. For full details, view the Health Sciences Smoke-Free Campus Pilot Policy (PDF), or see the campus notice about it. The policy applies to Health Sciences campuses, which include:

• Clinical, research, and education facilities at the UCSD School of Medicine and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Medical Center complexes in Hillcrest and La Jolla

Note: This policy goes beyond the UCSD Smoke-Free Policy (PPM 270-7), which currently prohibits smoking in any indoor area, or within 25 feet of a doorway, entryway, operable window or ventilation intake duct to any facility.

Why is Health Sciences going smoke-free?

• Cigarette smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke causes extensive lung and heart disease.
• According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), smoking causes:
  •  At least 30 percent of all cancer deaths
  •  Early cardiovascular disease and deaths
  •  Nearly 80 percent of deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Second-hand smoke also increases the risk of illness.
• Health care costs caused by smoking are enormous. The most recent data from the CDC state that the annual smoking-attributable health-care expenditures in the U.S. are approximately $96 billion.
• It's important for the educational, research, and clinical facilities to provide a smoke-free environment as part of Health Sciences’ leadership role in health promotion/ disease prevention.
• It's important to provide a smoke-free environment for young adults, who studies show are more likely to start smoking if they are exposed to others smoking.

Smoking cessation resources

The following are available to help smokers successfully quit, substantially improving their health:

• General cessation resources (Word file)
• Cessation resources for employees (Word file)
• Thinking About Quitting?
• Ready to Quit Today?
• Dealing With Relapse?
• Preventing Slips or Relapses
• Coping With Cravings and Withdrawal
• Dealing With Weight Gain
• Interactive tools:
  
  • How Does Smoking Affect Your Lifespan?
  • How Much is Smoking Costing You?
• Workshops: Check the UCSD Health Sciences Event Calendar for the next 30-minute smoking cessation informational workshop presented by pharmacists and Skaggs School students.

UC San Diego Medical Center Campuses are 100% smoke-free; smoking is not allowed on hospital grounds or within the buildings. There are no designated smoking areas and we ask that you respect our neighbors by not smoking on their property.

Enforcement

All employees and students share the responsibility of enforcing smoking policies through education and example. This includes approaching violators to remind them of the policy.

Success of this policy depends on the consideration and cooperation of everyone who works, studies, or is a patient or visitor on the Health Sciences academic and Medical Center campuses.

Human Resources

Smoke-Free Workplace

• Health Sciences Initiative