What is the Tobacco-Free Movement?
Over the past 10 years, a major tobacco-free movement has been initiated in the United States. The prevalence of adults who smoke declined 5.5% between 1997 and 2007. 36 Strict tobacco-free policies and higher tobacco taxes are proving to be the most effective methods to reduce tobacco use. Colorado is a progressive state in this movement. It is one of 30 states to adopt smoke-free policies in all workplaces, restaurants, bars and in the gaming industry. Colorado is also one of three states that meet the CDC’s recommended spending amount for tobacco prevention. 37 In 2004, Colorado raised the cigarette tax 64 cents per pack, producing an extra 28 million dollars a year in funds that are directly applied to Colorado tobacco prevention and cessation programming. 38 The tobacco-free movement is continuing to progress at the college-level. Along with 28 other Colorado colleges and universities, DU participates in the Colorado Collegiate Tobacco Prevention Initiative (CCTPI), funded by the
