Truth Initiative awards grants to 15 colleges and universities to help campuses quit nicotine

Truth Initiative has announced the recipients of 15 grants awarded to colleges and universities across the nation, each receiving up to $20,000 to support the adoption or implementation of tobacco/nicotine-free policies and provide students, faculty, and staff with resources to quit. 

With nearly all smokers starting before age 26 and e-cigarette use alarmingly high among young adults ages 18-24, colleges and universities are crucial to preventing nicotine addiction among young adults and providing resources to quit. Through Truth Initiative's Tobacco/Nicotine-Free College Program, the selected institutions will establish a taskforce to educate the community on nicotine addiction and promote quitting through EX Program, a free digital quitting program developed by Truth Initiative with Mayo Clinic that can increase the odds of quitting by up to 40%.

Since 2015, the Truth Initiative College Program has provided funding to over 235 colleges and universities to support the adoption of 100% tobacco/nicotine-free campus policies. The program has expanded to support institutions in implementing an existing policy, and now also provides the free evidence-based digital tools, personalized text messages, and peer support offered through EX Program.

College Leaders, supported by the grant, aim to create a culture of quitting

To empower the campus community in quitting, grantees will form a taskforce comprised of college administrators, faculty, staff, and College Leaders to assess tobacco-related issues, educate the campus community, promote quitting with EX Program, and in some cases, develop a policy recommendation or an implementation or enforcement plan for their college or university. College Leaders will act as campus advocates for new policies or will work to raise awareness of existing policies and encourage compliance.

In addition, College Leaders will support quitting on campus and promote EX Program through social media campaigns, flyers, and digital ads, and by partnering with student health centers to refer students to EX Program. College leaders will also conduct peer-led workshops and quitting challenges, and host creative student events to support a culture of quitting on campus. Employee newsletters and presentations during employee wellness, all faculty/staff, in-service, and benefit open enrollment meetings will provide resources to quit among college staff.

With nearly all smokers starting before age 26, college campuses are critical to preventing nicotine addiction

A vast majority (99%) of adult smokers start by age 26, and e-cigarette use remains alarmingly high among young adults ages 18-24. Nearly 1 in 5 young adults are at risk of lifelong nicotine addiction – and many are dual-using cigarettes or other nicotine products like oral pouches. These concerning trends, combined with the link between nicotine addiction and anxiety and depression, demonstrate the importance of discussing nicotine addiction on campus and supporting students, faculty, and staff in quitting. 

Colleges and universities that adopt tobacco/nicotine-free policies make an impact on the broader community by limiting e-waste and litter from tobacco and nicotine products and clearing the air of secondhand smoke and aerosol, creating a safer and healthier environment for all who work, study, and live in the college or university community.

We welcome the following colleges and universities into the grant program:

1. Alabama State University
2. Emory University
3. Florida International University
4. Florida State University
5. Illinois State University
6. Keck Graduate Institute
7. Montclair State University
8. Oberlin College
9. Pennsylvania State University-Harrisburg
10. Salisbury University
11. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
12. Sonoma State University
13. University of Chicago
14. University of Missouri – Columbia
15. University of Nebraska – Lincoln