UA Little Rock Revises No-Smoking Policy
E-cigarettes and vapor devices are no longer permitted at UA Little Rock
The Arkansas Clean Indoor Air Act of 2006 was created to protect workers in Arkansas from secondhand smoke in the workplace and to protect the citizens of Arkansas from secondhand smoke in public places. The Arkansas General Assembly amended the Arkansas Clean Air Act to include e-cigarettes or vapor devices. UA Little Rock has followed suite and amended the Smoke Free Campus Policy (219.1) in accordance with the state law.
The report, The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke, finds that even brief secondhand smoke exposure can cause immediate harm.
- Non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25-30% and lung cancer by 20-30%.
- Over 53,000 people in America die every year from secondhand smoke.
- In Arkansas, secondhand smoke is the third-leading cause of preventable death with approximately 575 Arkansans dying each year from someone else’s smoke.
According to the American Lung Association, there is now evidence that e-cigarettes release dangerous secondhand vapors. Two initial studies found formaldehyde, benzene and tobacco-specific nitrosamines (all carcinogens) coming from these secondhand emissions. In addition, e-cigarettes aren’t regulated by the FDA so there’s no real way to know the amount of nicotine or other chemicals they actually contain.
E-cigarettes were first promoted as smoking cessation aids. There aren’t any scientific studies, however, that prove they actually help. UA Little Rock Health Services offers a variety of smoking cessation options to help smokers reduce their dependence on nicotine. Visit ualr.edu/health or call 569-3188 for more information.
In accordance with Arkansas state law, UA Little Rock is a smoke free campus. Smoking, including the use of e-cigarettes or vapor devices, is strictly prohibited on all locations of the university, including the main campus, The William H. Bowen School of Law, and the UA Little Rock Benton Center. Any person who is convicted of a violation of this law may be punished by a fine. Additionally, students, staff, and faculty who fail to comply with this policy are subject to the disciplinary actions of the university. (Chancellor’s Office, 8/16/09)
