Initiative launched to make HBCUs smoke- and tobacco-free

The Truth Initiative and CVS Health Foundation have launched an initiative to combat tobacco use at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

Truth Initiative's tobacco-free college program has funded tobacco cessation programs at 135 colleges since 2015. Of those, 50 have accomplished smoke- or tobacco-free status. Forty were community colleges and 10 were HBCUs, according to a press release.

CVS Health Foundation has joined the effort to reduce tobacco use. It has committed $50 million to its "Be the First" campaign to produce the first tobacco-free generation in the U.S. The "truth x CVS Health Foundation" partnership will support 42 HBCUs and 64 community colleges in their efforts to become smoke- and tobacco-free campuses.

“With 99 percent of smokers starting before age 27, college campuses are critical to preventing young adults from starting tobacco use, aiding current smokers in quitting and reducing exposure to secondhand smoke for all,” Truth Initiative CEO and President Robin Koval said in the release. “Our partnership aims to counteract the decades of profiling of African Americans and low income communities by Big Tobacco. We are thrilled to be working with the CVS Health Foundation to make smoking and tobacco use a thing of the past on HBCU and community college campuses.”