MISSOULA, Mont. – The University of Montana has added e-cigarettes to its Tobacco Free UM Policy.
School officials say the change reflects the University’s commitment to a tobacco-free campus and providing a safe and healthy environment for its employees, students, and visitors.
“When we first passed the tobacco-free campus policy, we didn’t include e-cigarettes because we didn’t have enough research on how they impacted health,” said Linda Green, wellness director at UM’s Curry Health Center.
“Now we know more about the potential health risks of solvents and flavorings in vaping liquids. Diacetyl, a chemical linked to serious lung disease, is used as a flavoring,” she added.
UM’s most recent National College Health Assessment shows that the percentage of students who reported daily e-cigarette use doubled in the past two years from 1.1% to 2.2%.
The number of students who reported using e-cigarettes at least once in the past month also more than doubled over the past two years, from 3.7% to 7.6%.
Green said UM is committed to creating a healthier, more accessible environment for employees, students, and visitors, supporting quitters and reducing the number of new smokers.
