Go Green

Here is what I have so far. Our idea for the Go Green project is for USM to offer a smoking cessation program for students, faculty and staff. According to a report by the Tobacco Control Unit of the National Cancer Institute, smoking produces 10 times more air pollution than a diesel engine. (Invernizzi) The following report comes from an article for Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada and it states: “Chemical emissions from cigarettes were found to be comparable to pollutants released from industry. In fact, emissions of certain chemicals from cigarettes are higher than those from industries normally considered to be major polluters, such asthe petroleum or mining industry!” A stop smoking program offered through the university would be a big help to the environment, students, faculty, and staff. “A national survey of U.S. public universities reported that 70.0% have some type of smoking cessation program offered through student health insurance, but few offer the comprehensive services of counseling, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), and education (TTAC). In addition the consortium also states that 30% of college students are current tobacco users. To put that in cold, hard numbers, as of Spring 2009 there were 13,541 students enrolled at USM that means that of students ALONE 4,062 are smokers (Institutional Research). This does not include faculty and staff. Cost is not overly prohibitive. We found costs ranging from $2550.00 to $6000.00 and those costs were primarily for brochures, quitkits and promotional materials as well as some incentive awards. If the university were to offer a stop smoking program this would benefit all considered. We would clean up our environment by not polluting it with the poisonous toxins found in cigarette smoke and the waste caused by the cigarettes themselves and they would be helping those who do smoke kick a nasty habit and possibly help save thousands of lives.