Health District, youth advocates rally for tobacco-free future at CSN
April 28 event highlights health risks and growing regional shift toward tobacco-free colleges
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:April 27, 2026
LAS VEGAS — College students are at the center of a growing push for healthier campuses, and local youth are leading the charge. The Southern Nevada Health District’s Office of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion’s Tobacco Control Program and the Students Promoting Awareness Responsibility & Knowledge (SPARK) Youth Advisory Council will host an interactive outreach event at the College of Southern Nevada’s (CSN) West Charleston campus to educate students, faculty and staff about the benefits of a tobacco-free campus.
The event will take place Tuesday, April 28, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at CSN, 6375 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89146. Members of the Youth Advisory Council will answer questions and distribute educational materials to students, faculty and staff.
The Health District’s SPARK Youth Advisory Council is made up of local high school students who are actively amplifying youth voices on public health issues while developing leadership and advocacy skills. These students are partnering with the Health District’s Tobacco Control Program for their SPARK Spring Project, “CSN, The Time is Now.” Nearly 2,000 Clark County School District students participated in the project, capturing photographs of their peers holding message boards that reflect support for a tobacco-free campus. A collage of these photos will be displayed on the CSN campus April 28.
The initiative also encourages peer-to-peer conversations and puts student voices front and center in the call for change, as momentum builds across Southern Nevada to create tobacco-free learning environments. It will highlight the health and community benefits of adopting a tobacco-free policy and underscore the growing movement among higher education institutions across the region.
“Creating tobacco-free environments on college campuses is one of the most effective ways to protect young adults at a pivotal stage in their lives,” said Dr. Cassius Lockett, District Health Officer for the Health District. “By fostering healthier spaces today, we’re helping to prevent lifelong addiction and building a stronger, healthier community for the future.”
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, in 2024, 3.4% of young adults ages 18 to 24 smoked cigarettes, while more than four times as many in this age group reported vaping (14.8%). In Clark County, the prevalence was even higher in 2023, with 7.5% reporting cigarette use and 17.4% reporting e-cigarette use. Nearly all adults who smoke (99%) begin before age 26, making college campuses a critical setting for prevention efforts. Tobacco-free policies not only help reduce smoking rates among students but also shift social norms, eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke and support those trying to quit.
To learn more about the benefits of tobacco-free campus policies, visit 3 benefits of tobacco-free policies at colleges and universities. For individuals looking to quit smoking, free cessation resources are available through the Nevada Tobacco Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or nevada.quitlogix.org.
The Southern Nevada Health District serves as the local public health authority for Clark County, Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. The agency safeguards the public health of the community’s residents and visitors through innovative programs, regulations, and initiatives focused on protecting and promoting their health and well-being. More information about the Health District, its programs, services, and the regulatory oversight it provides is available at www.SNHD.info. Follow the Health District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.