The rate of those who smoke in
college has fluctuated the past twenty-five years hovering around 20%.
The majority of lifelong smokers start before
the age of twenty-four, says the Center for Disease Control. This implicated college students. Because of this, smoking bans are increasing. There are a variety of bans, but the
UW- La Crosse currently restricts smoking in and within
twenty-five feet of buildings.
There are some very concrete
statistics for why this is and has been a problem in the U.S. In many cases, about 33% of college smokers,
the use of tobacco products is for reducing anxiety. Academic and social anxiety can cause
feelings of depression, making cigarettes an appealing option.
Another reason for the relatively high smoking
rates among college students is weight loss.
Especially among college women, the pressure to be thin is
increasing. The CDC sites nicotine as a
proven appetite suppressant, and so frequent use of cigarettes is an effective
means of dieting.
A third cause for many college students to
smoke is social interaction. Social
smoking often takes place during study breaks, but is most prevalent when
alcohol is also involved. Smoking is
often more acceptable when drinking is involved because of false notions that
smoking will reduce the feelings of inebriation.
