Sprague, Sarah2014-10-092014-10-092014-05https://hdl.handle.net/1794/1846346 pages. A thesis presented to the Department of Planning, Public Policy and Management and the Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for degree of Bachelor of Arts, Spring 2014.This paper examines the influences that daily environmental exposure to smoking can have on a youth's decision to begin smoking. It also examines if implementing outdoor smoke and tobacco free policies changes perceptions of smoking to make it seem more socially unacceptable. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States due to unforeseen chronic conditions at the time of smoking initiation. Most United States adults report beginning to smoke before they turn eighteen. By examining what makes smoking undesirable to youth, we can implement policies which keep them from starting in the first place and save their lives.en-USAll Rights Reserved.Tobacco policyTobaccoSmokingHealthPublic healthThesis / Dissertation