University of California campuses across the state, including UCOP locations, will be tobacco free come the New Year, demonstrating UC’s commitment to providing a healthy environment for faculty, staff, students and visitors.

A leader in strong health care practices, UC already bans smoking at its five medical centers. The new tobacco-free policy that begins in January 2014 goes a step further by extending the ban to all campuses and anywhere on campus, including residence halls and parking lots, and also by prohibiting the sale and advertising of tobacco products.

UCLA, UC San Diego and UCSF implemented the new policy earlier this year, with positive results.

“Tobacco use and secondhand smoke continue to be the leading causes of preventable death in the country,” said Cheryl Lloyd, interim director of Risk Services at UCOP, which is leading the effort. “We can do our part to help change that by providing a smoke-free environment on our campuses so our employees, students and visitors aren’t exposed to something that damages their health.”

UC’s new tobacco-free policy bans a wide range of products, including cigarettes, chewing tobacco and electronic cigarettes.

Enforcement will rely primarily on educating smokers about the dangers of lighting up and other types of tobacco use, and promoting campus resources to help them quit.

Faculty and staff who want to quit smoking can access many resources through any UC-sponsored 2014 medical plan. All the 2014 plans will offer prescription nicotine replacement therapies, such as nicotine inhalers and sprays, at no cost when prescribed by a doctor. Over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapies, such as nicotine patches and gum, when prescribed by a doctor, will be available at the generic copay price for those enrolled in UC Care, Health Net Blue and Gold and Western Health Advantage. Kaiser members have no copay. Under Core and the Blue Shield Health Savings Plan, these will be subject to the deductible and co-insurance.

For more, follow these links:

• Communications Coordinator Katherine Tam’s full story
• UC Smoke & Tobacco Free Policy website
• 2014 Smoking Cessation Resources (PDF)

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