TFC Resources

Here’s what we know:

The tobacco industry spends lots of money to increase tobacco use

• “The tobacco industry spends more than $10 billion a year on the marketing of its products in the U.S. alone”                    
• In 1984, a tobacco company called younger adult smokers 'replacement smokers'.

Check The Truth's website for more info about the industry and its impact

Tobacco marketing targets youth

• “Corporations know that college freshman (and all college students) are relishing the benefits of being legal adults who are no longer under parental supervision. They know that you’re more likely to do less-than-healthy things, partially because it feels good to have no one there to stop you. Whether that’s drinking or smoking or consuming mostly Starbucks and hot pockets, you’re now the only one who can make your decisions, even if your body lobbies against them. Tobacco companies are aware of the college market and fully take advantage of it.”

This is an except from ForgetTobacco.com - click to read more.

Tobacco use of all types is bad for your body. Here are some staggering health facts:

• People who die each year from their own cigarette smoking = 400,000
•  Adult nonsmokers who die each year from exposure to secondhand smoke = 50,000
• Kids under 18 alive today who will ultimately die from smoking (unless rates decline) = 6,000,000+
• Smoking kills more people than alcohol, AIDS, car accidents, illegal drugs, murders, and suicides combined, with thousands more dying from spit tobacco use. Of all the kids who become new smokers each year, almost a third will ultimately die from it.

Learn more at www.tobaccofreekids.org

Here's What We Can Do About It:

The Whole USM Community deserves to have healthy and clean spaces in which to learn, work, and live.

Transitioning to a tobacco-free campus will:

• Improve the lives of the USM community members by removing daily exposure to secondhand smoke, a carcinogen that is harmful to smokers, non-smokers, and especially persons with compromised respiratory health conditions. The most recent outdoor secondhand smoke research from Stanford University, as well as Repace Associates, demonstrates that when measured close to a person who is actively smoking, air pollution can reach very high levels that are similar to levels observed for indoor smoking. 
• Decrease loss of productivity and absenteeism related to tobacco use by providing cessation resources. 
• Reduce higher medical insurance costs associated with tobacco induced illnesses by assisting individuals to access tobacco cessation resources.
•  Recover the costs and labor involved in daily removal of waste caused by cigarette butts, and chewing tobacco spittle, enabling Facilities Management Grounds/Custodial staff to dedicate more time to improving and maintaining USM properties. 
• Demonstrate how USM can be a leader of best practices in the prevention of tobacco addiction to the Greater Portland community businesses and schools by adopting a Tobacco-Free campus.

To learn more about the Tobacco-Free Campus movement and other colleges and universities who have gone tobacco free:

• Universith of Maine, Orono
• Maine Tobacco-Free College Network