As part of its commitment to health and wellness, Duke University will become a tobacco-free campus effective July 1, 2020. The policy prohibits the use of all tobacco products, including all electronic smoking devices such as e-cigarettes and vaping products, cigarettes, cigars, hookah, chewing tobacco, snuff, IQOS, and all other forms of tobacco.
What: Duke University will be a tobacco-free campus beginning July 1, 2020. This means the use of all tobacco-based products, including cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, hookahs, chewing tobacco, snuff, and electronic smoking devices such as e-cigarettes, vaping products, IQOS, as well as any other forms of tobacco.
When: This policy goes into effect on July 1, 2020, to allow time for people who smoke within the Duke community to seek and obtain treatment to overcome their nicotine dependence.
Where: This policy applies to all buildings or grounds owned or leased by Duke University. It is consistent with the tobacco-free policy implemented by Duke Health, including the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing, in 2007. The same tobacco-free provisions will now cover all property owned or leased by Duke University and Duke Health.
Who: All students, staff, faculty, contractors, visitors, volunteers, and vendors on Duke University property are subject to the policy.
Why: As part of the Healthy Duke initiative, Duke seeks to promote a healthy environment for members of its community and those it serves. Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death, and it leads to the death of more than half of all smokers. Duke will be joining more than 2,000 colleges and universities in the United States that have already adopted tobacco-free policies (including noncombustible and smokeless tobacco such as e-cigarettes). E-cigarette and vaping products have also been connected to an aggressive syndrome called E-cigarette, or Vaping, Product Use-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI) that causes severe and sometimes fatal lung injury and commonly affects young people who are otherwise healthy.
