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Survey Says Smoking Ban Cut Tobacco Use at Ohio University

By: Associated Press
Posted on: Tuesday, January 12, 2016

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ATHENS, Ohio (AP) – A new survey suggests that a smoking ban implemented at Ohio University six months ago has been successful at cutting into the use of tobacco on campus.

Trustees at the school in Athens in southeastern Ohio implemented a campus-wide tobacco ban last August. The Athens Messenger reports that a survey conducted in the university community in November was meant to gauge the effect of the new policy.

The survey says nearly 60 percent of the respondents stated that they never or “occasionally” see tobacco use on campus, compared to 32 percent in a previous survey in April.

Survey participants also noted a decrease in tobacco litter on campus.

The OU Tobacco-Free Task Force says the survey also notes some frustration that the policy isn’t being enforced well.