Montana Collegiate Tobacco Prevention Initiative
(MCPTI students gather at the awards banquet at the 2006 BACCHUS General Assembly in Anaheim, CA. Each MCPTI campus sent at least one student to this national peer education conference that hosts nearly 1,000 student leaders and campus advisors.)
What is the Montana Collegiate Tobacco Prevention Initiative (MCTPI)?
Montana Collegiate Tobacco Prevention Initiative (MCTPI) led by The BACCHUS Network™ is Montana’s young adult movement to create healthier college campuses in Montana by reducing tobacco use and creating a safe environment through year-round comprehensive education, cessation and policy change. Funded by the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program and staffed by The BACCHUS Network™, MCTPI has six participating Montana Campuses including: The University of Montana (Missoula), Montana Tech - The University of Montana (Butte), Montana State University (Bozeman), Montana State University (Billings), Montana State University-Northern (Havre), and Salish Kootenai College (Pablo). Each campus movement is led by an advisor and a group of dedicated students.
Why Have A Collegiate Tobacco Control Movement?
Campus health education of the past has not identified tobacco education and prevention as a high priority. However, the 18-24 year old age group continues to have the highest smoking rate among all adults. We know that a quarter of students begin using tobacco or increase their use while in college and that most students who use tobacco want to quit before they graduate. In addition, this age group is heavily targeted by the tobacco industry on campus with student groups (i.e. Rodeo club, fraternities and sororities), in local publications, bars/clubs, social events and concerts. The goals of MCTPI will help to address these high-risk tobacco issues in the Montana collegiate population.
Montana is also addressing the unique needs of the Native American young adult population through comprehensive year – round tobacco education on the Salish Kootenai College campus and through training efforts with the additional six tribal campuses that address commercial tobacco and the sacred nature of ceremonial tobacco use.
What are the Goals and Outcomes of the Montana Collegiate Tobacco Prevention Initiative (MCTPI)?
Goals
This program incorporates the goals of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Framework for Tobacco Control and the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program (MTUPP). The goals of this initiative are:
- Prevent initiation of tobacco use among college-age youth
- Promote cessation among youth and adults
- Reduce exposure to secondhand smoke
- Eliminate disparities caused by tobacco use
Outcomes
- Enhanced campus capacity to implement tobacco control programs
- Increased student leadership and involvement in campus tobacco control
- Greater collaboration between the campus and local community
- Increased awareness of the hazards of tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke by young adults and decision-makers in organizations that serve them
- Increased involvement efforts to reduce tobacco use and eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke by students and decision-makers in post-secondary institutions
- Increased number of public and private policies that have the potential to impact tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure among 18-to-24-year-olds, such as reducing access to tobacco products, increasing access to and use of cessation services, and increasing smoke-free environments
- Formation of student-led groups on campus to empower college students to take an active role in preventing and reducing tobacco use and reducing exposure to secondhand smoke.
Supporting Documents
1. Working with College and University Campuses: Objectives and Activities
2. Ideas for Working with Your College/University Campus
For more information contact The BACCHUS Network™
Olivia Jolly – Associate Director of Health Promotion Olivia@bacchusnetwork.org or 303-871-0901
Page last updated 08/06/2007
