Oberlin College & Conservatory Receives Truth Initiative Grant to Promote Tobacco-/Vape-Free Policy

Oberlin, Ohio – Oberlin College and Conservatory has been awarded a grant from Truth Initiative®, a national nonprofit public health organization committed to preventing youth and young adult nicotine addiction and empowering quitting for all – to implement and enforce our  100% tobacco/vape-free campus policy. Oberlin College & Conservatory is one of 15 colleges and universities to receive up to $20,000 each to support either the adoption or implementation and enforcement of a 100% tobacco/vape-free policy and promote quitting among students, faculty, and staff.

“The grant and support from Truth Initiative will support our students, faculty, and staff to design and implement a tobacco/vape-free initiative that makes our campus environment healthier for all by promoting both physical and mental well-being,” said Tara Woods, EdD, Director of Student Health Promotion and Prevention Services. “We’re excited to hit the ground running, with the help of our community and our partners at Truth Initiative, to develop a plan to promote our tobacco-/vape-free campus and show that our college is leading the charge in helping our students, faculty, and staff choose lives free from nicotine addiction.”

Over the next two years, Oberlin College & Conservatory will form a campus task force to assess smoking, vaping, and tobacco use behaviors and attitudes on campus, promote resources for quitting, and develop a policy implementation plan. The Oberlin College & Conservatory tobacco-free policy was adopted in 2016. With a new class of students each year, it's time to increase awareness and encourage compliance. Two College Leaders will also spearhead educational efforts to engage and mobilize their fellow students. To date, Truth Initiative’s Tobacco/vape-Free College Program has helped 168 college and university campuses institute tobacco-/vape-free policies to protect more than 1.5 million students, faculty, and staff. 

E-cigarette use remains alarmingly high for young adults ages 18-24, with nearly 1 in 5 at risk of lifelong nicotine addiction. College campuses are critical to preventing young adults from starting to use tobacco. Comprehensive tobacco/vape-free policies are also essential to reducing exposure to secondhand smoke and aerosol and protecting the environment, as e-cigarettes contribute to plastic, electronic, and chemical waste. 

“We are grateful for our dedicated college partners across the country who are working to make campus environments healthier places to live, work, and learn,” said Amy Taylor, Chief Development and Partnerships Officer at Truth Initiative. “College campuses are critical to preventing young adults from starting to use nicotine, and supporting those already using tobacco products in quitting. We know that by supporting institutions with the tools and resources to create tobacco/nicotine-free policies, we are helping to realize a future free from lifelong nicotine addiction.”

Truth Initiative will support students, faculty, and staff in quitting nicotine with EX® Program, a free, proven-effective digital quitting platform developed by Truth Initiative® with Mayo Clinic. EX Program brings together behavioral support, advice and tips, personalized messages, and the most established online quitting community to help people of all ages quit any type of tobacco or nicotine product, and can increase the odds of quitting by up to 40%.

About Truth Initiative:

This project was made possible through a grant from the Truth Initiative®, a national public health organization inspiring tobacco-free lives.

About Truth Initiative 
Truth Initiative® is a national nonprofit public health organization committed to a future free from lifelong addiction, fostering healthier lives and a more resilient nation. Our mission is to prevent youth and young adult nicotine addiction and empower quitting for all. Through our evidence-based, market-leading cessation intervention, EX® Program, and national public education campaigns, we lead the fight against youth and young adult tobacco use. Learn more at truthinitiative.org.

About EX Program  

EX® Program, developed by Truth Initiative® with Mayo Clinic, is a proven-effective digital cessation solution that brings together the best evidence-based tools and resources for quitting any kind of tobacco or nicotine product. People of all ages can access EX Program’s free behavioral support, text messaging, and the most established online quit community. EX Program has helped millions of people develop the skills and confidence on their journey to quit nicotine and can increase the odds of quitting by up to 40%. To learn more, visit exprogram.com.