UBreathe Free may serve as model for Buffalo State

The University at Buffalo has officially been smoke-free since 2009, providing resources, education and support to keep smoking off campus and assist students looking to quit smoking. Their experience going smoke-free provides a possible look at what the future will look like for Buffalo State.

UB's program, known as UBreathe Free, has had some success in getting students to stop smoking on campus over the last two years, although there is no scientific criteria to see if the program is working, said Sharlynn Daun-Barnett, alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention specialist in UB's wellness education services program.

"I know it's a culture change, and it takes time," she said.

Despite any success, the program hasn't completely eliminated smoking on campus, said Gary Giovino, chair of UB's department of health behavior.

"We're doing everything we can to educate and motivate students not to smoke on campus," he said. "There are still some that do, and it's very clear to me that they put their personal addiction over the health of others."

One effort being made to curtail the smoking that still occurs on campus involves students, faculty and staff handing out cards to smokers reminding them of the policy, with resources for quitting the habit listed on the back.

"You don't have to quit," Daun-Barnett said. "We don't really get into that, it's more of a personal thing. We just want it to be a healthy, clean place for the people that are here."

Students initially volunteered to hand out the cards, but staff and faculty will have a bigger role going forward, she said.

Most of the emphasis in the program has been placed on education and support, she said. Flyers and posters remind students of the policy, as well as the hazards of smoking, including one reminding students that 72 percent of the student body prefer socializing in a smoke-free environment.           

While providing information on the hazards of smoking is important, it's also important to support students interested in quitting, Daun-Barnett said. UB provides walk-in clinics for students who are looking to do just that.

"We have purchased our own nicotine patches, gum and lozenges," she said. "You can definitely get quick coaching, and you can get continuing support along the way."

Issues with contracts between the unions on campus and SUNY have limited how far UB can take the ban, Giovino said. Similar issues may arise at Buffalo State, should hard enforcement of the ban be considered. Implementing stronger application of the policy at UB was deemed unfair.

"The hardest part is that the unions don't allow enforcement," Giovino said. "Because of the unions, we couldn't build in enforcement because it would change the conditions of the work environment. The vice president here didn't think it was fair to punish the students if he couldn't punish employees."

While hard enforcement of the ban has been ruled out at least until new contract talks with the unions come up, UB campus police have agreed to remind smokers of the policy during the course of duty, Daun-Barnett said.

Taking away student's right to smoke is an issue that comes up when students are asked about the policy, she said.

"If you ask them directly, if they approve of the policy, they're very cautious," she said. "They think it's infringing on smoker's rights. I've done some research on that, and smokers are not a protected category. In fact, the people that are being breathed on are facing a public health issue."

While the majority of UB students support the program in surveys, concerns about their peer's rights being infringed on did come up. Lily Peterson, a graduate student at the UB School of Social Work worried the ban went too far.

"It doesn't bother me if people want to smoke away from the buildings," she said. "I feel people should be allowed to smoke. I don't think anyone should make that decision for them."

Michael Canfield can be reached by email at Canfield.record@live.com.