In this news of Anadolu Agency's (AA) file titled "One Breath, A Thousand Poisons", the "Smoke-Free Campus" application implemented in some universities in Istanbul was discussed.
The model, which has started to be implemented in some universities in the megacity, stands out as one of the steps towards addressing tobacco use on university campuses not only as an individual habit but as an issue that directly concerns the health of young people and campus life.
Within the scope of the application, the aim is to determine the rules regarding the use of tobacco products on campuses, to include students and university staff in the process, to prevent tobacco use and to raise awareness.
With the "Smoke-Free University" application, SBU students have been breathing healthy for 5 years
The "Smoke-Free University" application, which came into force at the University of Health Sciences (SBÜ) by the decision of the Senate on September 21, 2021, is implemented in all campuses, covering students, academic and administrative staff and visitors.
The aim of the application is to prevent individuals who do not use tobacco products from being exposed to second-hand smoke, to make it difficult for users to access and use these products, and to prevent the spread of tobacco use in the university environment.
In this context, the use of tobacco products is not allowed in all indoor areas of the university buildings and in open areas other than the smoking areas determined by the Senate, in official and service vehicles belonging to the university, as well as in private vehicles within the campus.
This project, implemented at the university, was also brought to the agenda in the program where President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with young people on the anniversary of the Law on the Prevention of Harmful Tobacco Products on July 19, 2025.
Zeynep Yaren Duman, a student of the University of Health Sciences, took the floor at the program and stated that she thought that the areas and campuses where young people spend time, such as universities, should be smoke-free and said, "My university, the University of Health Sciences, took an important step towards the smoke-free campus project. Now, I would like to address all university administrations from here: Please let our campuses be nicotine-free and smoke-free." he called.
In response to Duman's words, President Erdoğan addressed the issue to the Rector of the University of Health Sciences, Prof. Dr. He stated that they would talk to Kemalettin Aydın.
"A significant number of students have formed who defend 'Smoke-Free University'"
SBU Rector Prof. Dr. Kemalettin Aydın told the AA correspondent that the university took the first "Smoke-Free University" decision in Türkiye and put it into practice in 2021, and said that they also had experience in this period.
Aydın stated that they first determined a place below one thousandth of the university campus, away from the doors, venues, dormitories and classrooms, as a smoky area, and made all the remaining places a smoke-free university.
Noting that all students know that there is a sanction for breaking the rules of the practice, Aydın stated that students have been regularly given spot information about the harms of smoke, the advantages of a smoke-free university, and the effects of tobacco addiction on health, and informative activities have been carried out during in-school trainings and between classes, since the first months of their arrival at the university.
Aydın said, "A significant number of students have formed who defend the smoke-free university. We have become a university where the smoke-free university rules are almost never violated." he said.
Emphasizing that students should be prevented from using tobacco products during the transition period when they meet the university, Aydın said, "The smoke-free university stance of the University of Health Sciences has reached a point where everyone in Türkiye knows today. When the student comes to this university, he comes knowing that this university is a smoke-free university, even at the selection stage." he said.
Aydın stated that there is a risk that students may become addicted to tobacco through their contact with them after coming to university, and that they aim to minimize this contact and make tobacco products less visible and attractive.
Prof. Dr. Aydın said, "Our university has an advantage; since we are a health-themed university, the incoming student is a student who cares about health. We talk to them in almost every field to ensure that the student, who will naturally have a profession that cares about health, should not be in a health-damaging, addictive story." he said.
Stating that their goal is not only to make certain areas of the university smoke-free, Aydın said, "As an exemplary representation, the child we graduate from here should also go as the owner of this spirit." he said.
"Our campus is under protection"
Şevval Koçak, a second-year student at SBU Vocational School of Health Services, Department of Medical Laboratory Techniques, explained that she was very pleased with the application and said, "Our general campus was protected and we sometimes had difficulty breathing here. I am very pleased that we will not be exposed to this even while passing on the road." he said.
Cemrenur Sude Büyükemir, a first-year student at SBU Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Midwifery, stated that students can now smoke in designated areas and said, "In my opinion, the biggest advantage of this is that there are no butts on the ground and it does not pollute the environment. At the same time, you are not exposed to the smell or smoke of cigarettes. I think this is a very good thing for passive smokers." he said.
Elif Su Polat, a first-year student at SBU Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Midwifery, also stated that the application is very nice and said, "I do not smoke, and when my friends smoke around me, it bothers me as a passive smoker. When I go out to get fresh air, there is no one smoking next to me. I think it is very nice." he said.
"Smoke-Free Campus" application was implemented at IZU on August 15
At Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University (IZU), regulations were made for the use of cigarettes and tobacco products within the campus borders.
Within the scope of the practice that came into force as of August 15, the use of cigarettes and other tobacco products began to be allowed in special areas whose floors are determined by yellow lines. Except for these areas, the use of tobacco products is prohibited in all indoor and outdoor areas of the campus.
IZU Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Küçük stated that the "Smoke-Free Airspace" application, which was implemented in 2008, has started to gradually weaken in some areas in recent years, and that they have seen the reflection of this on the campus, and noted that students and staff smoke at the building entrances.
Stating that they had some problems about this issue and that butts started to create pollution on the campus, Küçük said, "When you put all these together, it is a step in terms of cleanliness. But more importantly, it is to save our young people from the long-term damage that that poison will cause and to raise awareness." he said.
Küçük said that they do not restrict the freedom of smokers and that smoking is allowed in the 11 yellow zones they have determined on campus.
Stating that it would make him happy to see people quitting smoking due to this practice, Küçük said, "What we want to do here is to ensure that people do not create an environment that will disturb other individuals while living in their own living spaces. Smoking is not prohibited on our campus, 'Here, smoke here.' we say. "We would be happy if it raises awareness." he said.
Küçük said, "When we look at it in terms of health and economy, these are good things that individuals can gain. Stress is generally the starting point. Our campus is a green campus of 630 decares. If you are stressed, run, go and shout in the forest in the back, no one will say anything. That's why I hope it will lead to good things." he said.
Students are satisfied with the "Smoke-Free Campus" application
Abdürrahim Köseoğlu, a 2nd year student at IZU Faculty of Sports Sciences, Department of Physical Education and Sports Teaching, stated that the application is very logical and useful, and that the fact that it can be smoked in certain areas can reduce the use of cigarettes, and that it is also very beneficial for the natural atmosphere of the campus.
Nermin Kiraz, a 3rd year student at IZU Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Department of Industrial Engineering, also stated that she found the application positive and said, "I think it is better, especially for people who do not use it. Our use of common areas has become more comfortable, be it cafes or certain places within the campus. It is progressing very well now. We have not seen any disruption by our friends." he said.
"Our goal is to reduce the harmful uses associated with this behavioral addiction."
Vice Rector of Ibn Haldun University (IHU), one of the universities where the application was implemented, Prof. Dr. Özcan Erkan Akgün emphasized that they have been aiming to implement smoke-free airspace and smoke-free campus practices for a long time, and said that both the board of trustees and the university rector attach great importance to the issue.
Stating that they carried out long studies and meetings to carry out the application in a consensus and mutual understanding with everyone, smokers and non-smokers, Akgün said, "We implemented this application by visiting all campus areas together with our rector and vice-rector, determining which areas are more suitable for use, and getting opinions from all our professors and deans." he said.
Akgün said that smoking and all kinds of behavioral addictions are very harmful to human life, and that the people around those who practice this behavioral addiction are also negatively affected.
Noting that one of the most important points in the application is the determination of smoking areas, Akgün said:
"It is very critical that these areas are outside of common use areas such as classrooms, libraries and cafeterias, so that they do not cause passive smoking. Therefore, this was one of the most important changes. Apart from this, we have a support program that we have been implementing for a long time. Our Guidance Research and Application Center has been informing all our students for 2 years and continues to provide services for them if they want to get support, regardless of the behavioral addiction, including smoking. Therefore, we also have supportive processes here."
Explaining that one of these processes is the practices carried out by the Department of Art, Culture and Sports, Akgün said, "Our aim in these practices is to encourage sports, artistic and cultural activities, to try to make people happier in their relations with people and to reduce harmful uses related to this behavioral addiction." he said.
Akgün stated that reducing cigarette consumption is a very critical goal for both students, academics and all stakeholders, and said that the university is an environment that cultivates the future of a country and its human resources, and that the health of these people and the importance they attach to their own lives and the lives of others are very important.
Pointing out that there are other behavioral addictions besides tobacco smoking, Akgün said, "Unfortunately, we see that many different types of behavioral addictions, such as social media addiction, digital addictions, and digital gambling addiction, which grows secretly, are rapidly spreading among students and young people. We see that the solution to this is to increase human-to-human interaction, disseminate intervention programs, and facilitate access to intervention programs." he said.
Akgün stated that while they are working on this issue within the university, they are also carrying out joint projects with the Green Crescent.
"We support it until the end"
Hatice Rümeysa Avcı, a 3rd year student at IHU Faculty of Educational Sciences, Department of Psychological Counseling and Guidance, noted that she was very happy that her friends would no longer smoke in common areas, and that this situation also affected her health, as she was a passive smoker even if she was not an active smoker.
Yusuf Zahid Karahamza, a second-year student at the Department of New Media and Communication at the Faculty of Communication, expressed that he was very pleased with the "Smoke-Free Campus" application and said, "We had friends who smoked on the walking paths and at the entrances and exits of buildings. We were exposed to smoke and second-hand smoke both at meals and when entering and exiting classes. This was very dangerous for our health." he said.
