KCTCS to go tobacco-free in 2015

Seven campuses already tobacco-free

VERSAILLES, Ky. (Nov. 20, 2014) — All Kentucky Community and Technical College System campuses will become tobacco-free in 2015.

Seven campuses—Ashland Community and Technical College, Bluegrass Community and Technical College, Gateway Community and Technical College, Hopkinsville Community College, Madisonville Community College, Maysville Community and Technical College and Owensboro Community and Technical College—are already tobacco-free.

The System Office, Elizabethtown Community and Technical College and Jefferson Community and Technical College will go tobacco-free in January.

Big Sandy Community and Technical College, Hazard Community and Technical College, Henderson Community College, Somerset Community College, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College, Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College and West Kentucky Community and Technical College will become tobacco-free at various times next year.

Smoking cessation classes will be offered to System Office employees Jan. 15 through April 9, 2015

Kentucky has the highest rate of adult smokers in the U.S., the sixth highest rate of youth smoking and leads the nation in cancer deaths. Other forms of tobacco also are linked to a variety of cancers, and e-cigarettes pose other serious health risks related to the release of harmful chemicals.

“Tobacco products have a deadly grip on thousands of Kentuckians and are the single biggest causes of preventable illness and death in our state,” KCTCS President Michael B. McCall said.  “Becoming tobacco-free will create a healthier working and learning environment for faculty, staff, students, vendors, contractors and visitors.”