<p>
[quote]
College students may be more likely to smoke than any other age group, according to a new study done by researchers at Syracuse University.</p>
<p>"There has been up to a 30 percent increase over the past 20 years in college smoking, which is more than all other age groups," said Danielle Seigers, a graduate student of clinical psychology who works for SU's Tobacco Research Program (TRP).</p>
<p>An inverse relationship between education and smoking exists in the general population, said Monica Webb, a principal investigator and an assistant professor of clinical psychology. . . .</p>
<p>"But there is something going on that is different with college students who seem to be increasing their smoking rate. This is an issue that has received national attention."
[/quote]
</p>
<p>S, who hates cigarette smoke, tells me that at his school it seems like closer to 50%, though it may just seem like that many to him, and he is including those who smoke occasionally or "socially." I can't understand it either, ucsd<em>ucla</em>dad - as you say, these are otherwise very bright kids.</p>
<p>I'm no psychologist, but I suspect it has something to do with the fact that the negative consequences seem so far in the future relative to other age groups.</p>
<p>I don't know many people my age who smoke. I am constantly shocked at how many young people I see smoking.
Also today I sat outside near the hospital while my child had physical therapy. I was amazed at how many people in obvious health care professions based on clothing walked by smoking.</p>
<p>
[quote]
What makes you think that many students smoke?
[/quote]
It's more anecdotal - the smokers I see on-campus when I visit my Ds' universities. I don't think a very high percentage smoke but there are still too many who smoke. </p>
<p>
[quote]
but I suspect it has something to do with the fact that the negative consequences seem so far in the future relative to other age groups
[/quote]
I'm sure this is true - especially when 20 or 30 years in the future seems like an eternity to them and when they might not have had much if any personal experience with people suffering the consequences of their smoking. In addition to the consequence of health issues there are also the consequences of the direct cost of cigarettes as well as the difficulty they'll face when they try to quit later - and most of them will try to quit later. On top of that is the inconvenience they face in fulfilling their addiction since in California and many other places now they can't smoke in the office, in restaurants, bars, rental cars, public transit, even hotels, so they must take time to go out of their way to take time out to head outside somewhere to stand idly (while their co-workers are working) puffing away and looking conspicuous in their idleness which could affect the boss' perception (i.e. every other time the boss passes that door there you are just standing there smoking).</p>
<p>When etselec says there are a few smoking dorms at Swarthmore, it is a very few. Of the 1400 or so available beds at the College, approximately 160 are in dorms that allow smoking. 90 of those are in the one "large" dorm that allows smoking. The rest are scattered around campus in four other housing areas.</p>
<p>BTW, anyone who answers that they smoke "sometimes" is either lying or on the way to being a full-time smoker. Nicotine addiction doesn't allow "sometimes" smoking.</p>
<p>I also think it is misguided to perpetuate the myth that smoking and nicotine consumption "relieves stress". The only stress that smoking relieves is the stress of impending nicotine withdrawal 30 minutes after the last nicotine fix. The physiological effects of stress due tend to metabolize nicotine faster, thus the withdrawal symptoms become more acute. Smoking is not reducing "stress", it's reducing the effects of low nicotine levels on a nicotine addict. Endorsing the silly notion that smoking reduces stress reinforces the biggest excuse nicotine addicts use to convince themselves that, unlike 46 million ex-smokers in the United States, they can't possibly kick their nicotine addiction.</p>
<p>UW-Madison doesn't require students to live in the dorms as freshmen, any smokers would look to private housing (and some apartment buildings prohibit smoking I was happy to learn). The dorms are always full and turn away students. The campus culture is a nonsmoking one, no support for "smokers rights".</p>
<p>I guess living in California really does give give us a different view. I visit Virginia quite regularly and am always shocked to smell smoke in public places. I hate going to Las Vegas you can't get away fron the smoke.</p>
<p>At my D's California campus there is one or two designated outside smoking areas, very small areas. On my visits to the campus, I occasionally see students/faculty smoking in those zones. </p>
<p>I also think that the fact the second hand smoke is hazardous to your health is why mandating no smoking is an issue.</p>
<p>
[quote]
When etselec says there are a few smoking dorms at Swarthmore, it is a very few. Of the 1400 or so available beds at the College, approximately 160 are in dorms that allow smoking. 90 of those are in the one "large" dorm that allows smoking. The rest are scattered around campus in four other housing areas.
[/quote]
Dorms where you can smoke cigarettes might be few at Swat, but my friend who goes there says that his hall reaks of weed almost every day. Sure they cannot smoke cigarettes in their dorms, but that isn't stopping them from smoking other things.</p>
<p>The state of IA just banned smoking on campuses including outside! That will be interesting to enforce. My son suspects it will just mean more cigarette litter because the schools are planning to remove whatever you call those receptacles for cigarette butts.</p>
<p>Venkat--the difference between smoking dorms and non-smoking is that in a non-smoking dorm your friend could go to the RA and ask him/her to resolve the issue. Whether or not your friend wants to spoil everyone else's fun, though, is a different matter. You get used to the smell, so as long as there are no health issues people usually put up with it. Let's face it, weed is not the worst thing you're going to smell in a really social dorm like Willets.</p>
<p>idk, I just question how effective banning cigarettes on campuses can really be. If people really want to smoke in their rooms and elsewhere they will. Maybe it's just the culture of my school, but none of your hallmates are going to rat you out to the RA unless you burn down half of the building.</p>
<p>Very effective- they create a nonsmoking expectation. You better believe nonsmokers will not put up with the smell of smoke in their living quarters, most dorm rooms are shared and colleges with a no smoking policy don't have to ask about smoking in assigning roommates. No smoking rules don't preclude pot usage- I still remember not being offered some chocolate brownies with an explanation... Sunlight - easy to escape, no "second hand" exposure.</p>