Health sciences premises to be smoke-free

With growing scientific evidence pointing to the health risks of secondhand smoke, UW–Madison has strengthened its existing policy on the use of tobacco on campus grounds.

Beginning Wednesday, April 2, restrictions on smoking will be particularly noticeable on the west end of campus, where health sciences facilities are concentrated. All facilities and grounds that are adjacent to or within the boundary of UW Hospital and Clinics premises will be entirely smoke-free; smoking is not permitted anywhere on the grounds (see map). That includes the hospital and clinics, American Family Children’s Hospital, the School of Medicine and Public Health, the School of Nursing, the School of Pharmacy in Rennebohm Hall, the Carbone Cancer Center and the Waisman Center.

Currently, all buildings, facilities and vehicles owned or leased by UW–Madison are completely smoke-free. This includes all indoor air space: faculty and administrative offices, stairwells and other enclosed parts of parking ramps, all UW–Madison-owned and leased athletic facilities, both Memorial Union and Union South (except designated hotel rooms) and all university residence halls. Smoking is not permitted near exits and entrances of buildings, except at a distance of at least 25 feet from those points.

Meriter and St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison are also going completely smoke-free.

“No one, but particularly hospital patients, should have to breathe toxic smoke on the UW campus,” says Vice Chancellor for Administration Darrell Bazzell. “Our decision reflects the idea that the right of a nonsmoker to breathe air free of environmental tobacco smoke takes precedence over the right of a smoker to smoke.”

One of the nation’s leading tobacco research organizations is based at UW–Madison in the School of Medicine and Public Health. The Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention (CTRI) is nationally recognized for its work developing and testing better ways to help tobacco users overcome their addiction. The center offers a variety of approaches to help smokers quit: the Smoking Cessation Clinic, support groups and clinical studies of new treatments for tobacco addiction.

One of the most popular CTRI programs is the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line, a free and confidential telephone-counseling service that has provided quitting help for six years. The quit line provides both a coach who helps each smoker develop a quit plan and a free “quit kit” to get the smoker started. The quit line has helped thousands of callers and reports a 91 percent satisfaction rate from callers. Call (800) QUIT-NOW to reach the quit line.

Campus units that choose to adopt more stringent smoke-free policies should consult with Bazzell (262-9943) before implementation. He has also been designated as the campus point of contact for those with questions or complaints about issues related to smoking on campus.