Breathe Easy at UIC
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UIC’s Breathe Easy campaign includes and goes beyond the University’s adherence to state laws. This campaign also seeks to support the health of the UIC campus community by giving those who smoke, vape, hookah, or chew an opportunity to have a reflective moment and consider the life-saving benefits of being able to cease tobacco use and Breathe Easy.
Are you thinking about quitting? Are you exploring the pros and cons of this behavior on your health and the health of those around you who are exposed to second-hand smoke? If so, this is “Contemplation,” the second stage in the Stages of Change (Transtheoretical) Model. Information and guidance are critical tools to help you continue to move forward to the next stage, which is “Preparation.” Please scroll to the bottom of this page to discover tools and resources, like the consultants at the Illinois Tobacco Quitline, who can help make quitting a little easier.
Why Does UIC Have a Breathe Easy Campus? Heading link
The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) has a long-standing commitment to the support and maintenance of a smoke-free campus. Its policies and practices comply with key State of Illinois legislation like the Smoke-Free Illinois Act, the Smoke-Free Campus Act, and the Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act which seek to create spaces that are free from the risk of second-hand smoke. Policies such as the UIC Cannabis Policy and the UIC Tobacco Free Policy are aligned with this legislation. These laws and policies prohibit smoking in public places and specifically on any State of Illinois college campus, like UIC. The policy applies to all forms of tobacco, including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, water pipes (hookahs), chew, electronic cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco products. These laws and policies protect the rights of students, staff, faculty, patients, visitors, and contractors to live, learn, and work in a “smoke-free” campus environment allowing them to “Breathe Easy.” Prohibiting smoking on university property includes but is not limited to labs, buildings, classrooms, residential halls, and outdoor spaces like the quad.
How You Can Help Heading link
Maintaining UIC’s “Breathe Easy Campus” and adhering to State of Illinois law means smoking can only occur on public sidewalks that border UIC properties. Failure to comply with these statutes and policies may result in warnings or fines.
Want to Quit? Heading link
The first step is as simple as exploring information, identifying support, and finding your motivation. For example, a few days after quitting, carbon monoxide levels in the blood drop to normal. Learning about the immediate and positive effects of quitting can motivate and sustain your best cessation efforts. See this incredible list of benefits at the American Cancer Society website. Still interested? Want to explore your options? We make that next step easier by providing credible agencies and FREE resources to help you. See below.