Breathe Easy

100% Smoke, Vape and Tobacco-Free Property

The Community College of Allegheny County is committed to the health, well-being and safety of all college community members and is proud to implement a policy that will create a healthier, cleaner, and more productive environment. Choosing to implement the policy was based on assessments of regional and national trends, input from the campus community, and a wealth of research documenting health risks associated with tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure.  The policy will allow all who work, study, or visit CCAC to ‘Breathe Easy’ by eliminating exposure to Class A carcinogens found in second and third-hand smoke. Cessation support will be provided for those who will need to refrain from smoking and tobacco use while on college property and also for those who would like to use this opportunity to quit.

Expected benefits of this change will be a reduction in students who initiate tobacco use upon entering college, considerable savings in grounds-keeping and facility cleanup expenses directly related to tobacco products, an improvement in on-the-job work productivity and absenteeism rates, long-term cost savings in health care for employees, and an overall improved professional image for the college.

Creating a supportive, positive, and healthy environment for the entire campus is a shared responsibility. We encourage everyone to promote compliance with the policy.

The Effects of Secondhand Smoke

• Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or at work increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25–30%.
• Secondhand smoke increases the risk for lung cancer and stroke by 20−30%.
• Breathing secondhand smoke interferes with the normal functioning of the heart, blood, and vascular systems in ways that increase the risk of having a heart attack.
• Even brief exposure to secondhand smoke can damage the lining of blood vessels and cause your blood platelets to become stickier. These changes can cause a deadly heart attack.
• Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke are inhaling many of the same cancer-causing substances and poisons as smokers.

Source:  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Secondhand Smoke Facts

Benefits of Quitting

As soon as you quit, your body begins to repair the damage caused by smoking.

See the health benefits you'll experience as soon as 20 minutes to 15 years after quitting.

20 Minutes after Quitting:

• Your heart rate drops to a normal level.

12 Hours after Quitting:

• The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.

2 Weeks to 3 Months after Quitting:

• Your risk of having a heart attack begins to drop.
• Your lung function begins to improve.

1 to 9 Months after Quitting:

• Your coughing and shortness of breath decrease.

1 Year after Quitting:

• Your added risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's. 

5 to 15 Years after Quitting:

• Your risk of having a stroke is reduced to that of a nonsmoker's.
• Your risk of getting cancer of the mouth, throat, or esophagus is half that of a smoker's.

10 Years after Quitting:

• Your risk of dying from lung cancer is about half that of a smoker's.
• Your risk of getting bladder cancer is half that of a smoker's.
• Your risk of getting cervical cancer or cancer of the larynx, kidney or pancreas decreases.

15 Years after Quitting:

• Your risk of coronary heart disease is the same as that of a nonsmoker.

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Health Consequences of Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2004.

Smoking Cessation Free Apps
If you’re finally ready to leave tobacco behind forever, help is in the palm of your hand. Whether you’re using an iPhone, Android, or Windows Phone, a quit-smoking app offers up the virtual support you need to kick your habit for good
Android QuitNow! Offers real-time stats about last cigarette smoked, amount of cigarettes avoided, and money saved. Stop Smoking Includes a system for community support from other quitters. Real-time display of money and time saved. Get Rich or Die Smoking  A sophisticated rewards system and a community to chat with other quitters. Time To Quit Reports how much time since your last cigarette and how much money saved. Customized widget display.	iPhone LIVESTRONG MyQuit Coach Help for quitting cold turkey or gradually decreasing nicotine intake, guidance for setting attainable goals. Quit It Lite Keeps track of cigarettes not smoked and money saved. Receive text messages about the benefits of quitting. Quit Last cigarette smoked and money saved. Connect with social media to allow for support and provide inspiration. Smoke Free Provides reminders for time passed since last cigarette and tracks the length of cravings.	Windows Quit Counter Helps motivate to quit smoking by tracking progress and milestones.  Give Up Smoking Find out expected emotions and physiological feelings as you progress through quitting. Provides interesting facts and advice. Stop Smoking Helper Provides interesting information on how you’ve reduced cigarette intake, overall health and how much money you’ve saved.