Reflection assignment

Let’s Ban Smoking on College Campuses

Colleges and universities in the United States should ban smoking within the facilities in order to create smoke-free environment. This move will not only be good for the learning environment but also to the well-being and health of the students. “Despite majority of campuses in United States adopting tobacco free policies, the number of tobacco smokers has been increasing in the progressive years since 2002” (Lee, Joseph pg311). Even though freedom in higher learning institutions is good for social life, tobacco smoking in universities and colleges should be banned by enforcing smoke-free policies for the sake of decreasing health problems in the society.

Students in colleges and universities have different perceptions about smoking. Some view it as the best way of relaxing and passing the free time in college while others perceive it as the best way of regaining happiness and avoiding stress. “The majority of the US population are not smokers where 49.1% are protected by smoke-free restaurants and public places but the law is not applicable to college campuses” (Rigotti, Nancy pg 138).

Many students are not aware of the negative consequences of smoking which outweigh the positives. They have indeed made smoking a lifestyle and are ready to defend smoking at all times. When the idea to establish tobacco-free universities was suggested, it was a controversial idea altogether but currently; the policy was rolled out in 95% of the US universities and colleges with about 60% fully adopting 100% smoke free policies.

Tobacco-free policies on US campuses should be affected to avoid the economic and health consequences of smoking to campus students. Students who are engaged in smoking have devoted much of their precious time and money in buying and smoking cigarettes. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, cases of lung Cancer have been on the rise over the years. All has been attributed to changes in lifestyle, which include smoking, drug abuse and eating habits. Deaths from lung cancer was estimated in the US to be 62,000 where a half of the number arising from the inhalation of the second hand smoke. Consequently, “smoking related infections and illnesses such as respiratory illness has been reported to affect many other hundreds of thousand individuals. All these have led to increased healthcare cost driving it to millions of dollars. Therefore, smoking in colleges and universities should be banned because it is all where smoking lifestyle is courted” (Williams, Scott pg 451).

Research shows that not only does smoking in colleges and universities place the smoker at risks of cancer but also the non-smoker. One smoker in a classroom has the potential of infecting the entire class with smoking related illnesses. By coughing alone, a smoker might spread germs and bacteria among other students in the classroom. This is enough justification as to why smoke-free policies should be strictly enforced in higher learning institutions. Secondhand smoke carries the same quantities as that of the smoker, where a non-smoker can inhale the same quantities of chemicals carried in tobacco that subjects both individuals to the same degree of risks.

Smoke-free policies in Universities has been championed by the Americans for Non-smokers’ Rights about the negative consequences of smoking. This organization has gone ahead to establish ‘Freedom from Smoking’ groups and other similar groups in the universities in order to help students to understand both the psychological and the biological consequences of cigarette smoking.

Researchers have established the relationship between smoking and the risk of acute myocardial infarction and coronary heart diseases. “Secondhand smoke exposes non-smokers to these conditions in an equal measure as smokers. The chemicals contained in the secondhand smoke include irritants and systemic toxicants, mutagens, and carcinogens, and reproductive and developmental toxicants” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2007). Out of these chemicals, more than 50 have been shown to exhibit carcinogenic properties. Consequently, secondhand exposure to the tobacco smoke has been attributed to lung and nasal sinus cancer, heart disease, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (National Cancer Institute 2003). Other chemicals besides the carcinogenic chemicals can expose one to conditions such as asthma induction and exacerbation, bronchitis and pneumonia, middle ear infection, chronic respiratory symptoms, and low birth weight (Williams, Scott pg 451).

Psychologically, smoking tobacco led to many students performing poorly and obtaining poor grades in their careers because of psychological disorders that go hand in hand with smoking. Smoking leads to mental disturbance and acute cases of these disturbances has led to many students dropping out of their courses. Thus, smoking in colleges and universities should be banned because of the negative psychological effects on the students. “Good morals in the society can be built by banning tobacco smoking in universities and colleges and those that are engaged in smoking be placed under counseling centers within the colleges” (Lee, Joseph pg311).

As part of banning tobacco smoking in Universities, and colleges, Tobacco smoking quit plans has been laid down in over 1200 higher learning institutions in US. It involves walking the addicted through barriers that will eventually lead them to quit smoking. Bannister who works for Emory University as a clinical staff said that students who are addicted with Tobacco smoking have been counseled and given alternative options as tobacco substitutes. Such options include a cup of coffee or at some cases given longer breaks between smoking durations as part taking addicted students out of smoking. Relapse prevention has also been conducted to avoid losing individuals who had abandoned smoking getting back to it again. “Both medical consultation and behavioral counseling centers has played crucial role in tobacco smoking cessation programs in universities and colleges” (Moran, Susan, pg56).

Therefore, based on these establishments, all colleges and universities should adapt 100% tobacco-free policy on their campuses, also, drug trafficking start with incidents such as smuggling cigarettes into higher learning institutions. There is a greater chance that, a cigarette will also engage in the sale of other drugs such as cocaine. Thus, “tobacco smoking should be banned in universities and colleges lest the whole society will end up smoking because these institutions form an important part of the society” (Williams, Scott pg 451).

Works Cited

Lee, Joseph GL, et al. "Statewide diffusion of 100% tobacco-free college and university policies." Tobacco control 19.4 (2010): 311-317.

Rigotti, Nancy A., Susan E. Moran, and Henry Wechsler. "US college students’ exposure to tobacco promotions: prevalence and association with tobacco use." American journal of public health 95.1 (2005): 138.

Williams, Scott C., et al. "The adoption of smoke-free hospital campuses in the United States." Tobacco control 18.6 (2009): 451-458.

Moran, Susan, Henry Wechsler, and Nancy A. Rigotti. "Social smoking among US college students." Pediatrics 114.4 (2004): 1028-1034.