Feather River College (FRC) has been recognized for its outstanding tobacco and nicotine policies, receiving an A+ grade from the California Youth Advocacy Network’s tobacco-free policy report card. Chrissy Adams from the California Health Collaborative highlights the importance of addressing tobacco and nicotine use as a critical health issue, noting that commercial tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the U.S., causing about 480,000 deaths annually.
The report card evaluates how colleges and universities implement rules to protect their communities from tobacco and nicotine hazards. While all campuses in the University of California and California State University systems have been tobacco-free for several years, only 69% of community colleges have followed suit. In 2018, the California Community College board of governors encouraged all its colleges to adopt smoke- and tobacco-free policies.
Feather River College became a smoke- and tobacco-free campus in July 2021, aided by the Smoke Free High Country project. This project supports colleges in Plumas, Lassen, and Siskiyou counties in adopting smoke-free policies. Adams notes that rural colleges, like FRC, are less likely to be smoke-free compared to those in urban areas, where two-thirds have banned tobacco. She attributes higher smoking rates in rural areas to targeted efforts by tobacco companies.
In regional comparisons, FRC is tied with College of the Redwoods and Shasta College, all earning A+ ratings in California’s northernmost Region 1. Other nearby schools received lower grades, resulting in an average C+ for the region.
Adams emphasizes that a smoke- and tobacco-free campus can help students quit smoking, reduce cigarette consumption, change attitudes, and foster positive views on tobacco rules. Additionally, reducing tobacco waste can lower fire risks, save cleanup costs, and enhance campus aesthetics, as tobacco waste is a significant source of litter and environmental pollution.
Adams encourages those interested in supporting tobacco cessation efforts to contact her for more information.
Information provided by California Health Collaborative
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