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Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Launches Tobacco-Free Campus Initiative

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The initiative forbids all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is now a tobacco-free campus.

In launching the Tobacco-Free Campus Initiative, the School prohibits the use of any tobacco product – not just cigarettes – in all buildings, facilities and vehicles. The initiative also forbids e-cigarettes and discourages the use of tobacco products on all outdoor campus grounds.

“As a school of public health we are dedicated to promoting the well-being of the global community,” says Michael J. Klag, MD, MPH, dean of the School.  “With the Tobacco-Free Campus Initiative, we are taking steps to also promote our own health as well.”

Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable deaths, responsible for about one in five deaths annually in the U.S. – more than HIV, illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injury, suicide and murder combined. It is estimated that six million youth alive today will eventually die prematurely from smoking.

Deterring the use of tobacco in all forms is crucial to protect the health of the students and workforce of the JHSPH community, initiative organizers say. By keeping out all tobacco products, the initiative ensures that the School doesn’t unintentionally encourage or reinforce tobacco addiction among students, faculty and staff.

As part of the initiative, the School will promote the use of smoking cessation services and resources; such services are included as part of student and employee health insurance plans.

For more information about the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Tobacco-Free Campus Initiative, click here.

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Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health media contact: Stephanie Desmon at 410-955-7619 or sdesmon1@jhu.edu.