Designated Smoking Areas 

Lewis & Clark is committed to making our campus environment a healthier place to learn, work and live. Effective in fall 2010, Lewis & Clark allows smoking only in 13 designated smoking areas (DSAs) located across the three campuses. 

A map of the DSAs is available to download. Individuals found smoking outside of the DSA may be subject to a $25 fine. For information, read the campus smoking policy.

Facts about tobacco use

• Smoking cigarettes is not as normal as we think! The 2010 National College Health Assessment (NCHA) found that while Lewis & Clark students believe only 3% of their peers have never smoked cigarettes. In reality, more than 55% Lewis & Clark students have never smoked.
• Every year, cigarette smoking accounts for approximately 1 out of 5 deaths in the United States, or 438,000 people. (1)
• Cigarette smoking results in 5.5 million years for potential life lost in the United States annually. (2)
• Nicotine dependence is the most common from of chemical dependence in the United States. Research suggests that nicotine is as active as heroin, cocaine, and alcohol. (3)
• People who begin smoking before the age of 21 have the hardest time quitting compared to those who begin later in life. (3)

Facts about secondhand smoke

• Secondhand smoke is the combination of smoke from the burning end of a cigarette and the smoke exhaled by smokers. Secondhand smoke contains more than 7000 chemicals. Hundreds are toxic and about 70 can cause cancer. (5)
• While only approximately 45 million people smoke cigarettes in the United States, approximately 126 million nonsmoking Americans are exposed to secondhand smoke. (4)
• Exposure to secondhand smoke contributes to an estimated 49,400 deaths each year. (2)
• Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or at work increase their risk of developing lung cancer by 20-30%. (4)

Ready to quit?

Quitting smoking now can greatly reduce your risk of cancer and other diseases caused by smoking. Studies have shown that smokers who quit early in life can reduce their risk of dying from smoking-related diseases by almost 90%.

Please visit our Cessation Resources page for more information on quitting smoking and how you can find help at Lewis & Clark.

Helpful Links

DSA map

Smoking Policy

Cultural/Religious Exemption Form

Citation Appeals Form

References
1. Vital Signs: Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adults Ages >18 Years - United States 2009. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2010.
2. Smoking-Attributable Mortality, Years of Potential Life Lost, and Productivity Losses - United States, 2000-2004. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
3. Smoking and Tobacco Use: Smoking Cessation Fact Sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2011.
4. The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke. A Report from the Surgeon General. US Department of Health and Human Services. 2006.
5. Secondhand Smoke and Cancer: National Cancer Institute Factsheet. National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health.