Students Adjust To Smoking Prohibition

One school’s smoking prohibition is creating a litter problem in another segment of the community. Oklahoma City University is the first college in the state to entire ban smoking earlier this year. Since then, students at the school who smoke have crossed the street to light up at a city-owned bus stop.

Kristyn Chalker, a sophomore said: “All of a sudden, you can’t smoke anywhere. I’m not really a smoker, but I just feel like it’s kind of unfair to a lot of the people. A lot of the times, they just go right across the street to where the campus ends.” Shayna Vercillo, a junior, said: “It’s caused quite uproar. I do think, as a campus, we’re trying to be more health-conscious. You just have to really make an effort to stop.” The prohibition has left the school clean and clear and free from smoke. But it’s a different story on the edge of campus as students light up as soon as they leave the grounds.

Logan O’Reilly, a freshman, said: “You have to walk across the street and you have to make sure that you’re off campus or the cops will find you.”

Students who smoke at the bus stop are leaving a mess of cigarette butts behind. Students are sure that it should be the city’s responsibility to provide a trash can.

Chief Lyndel Harris, of the Oklahoma City University Police Department, said: “We’ve had a few problems and a few violators, but nothing real serious.”

Oklahoma City University’s Edmond campus and the University of Oklahoma in Norman don’t have a tobacco policy. Students can smoke 25 feet from buildings. Oklahoma State University in Stillwater has a complete tobacco prohibition, meaning students can’t smoke anywhere on campus.

Not all People like to Smell like Smoke

In our days to puff on a cigarette or to walk with a cigarette in a hand is something ordinary.

But beginning with July 1, when the Nacogdoches City Council passed a No Smoking Ordinance, the city became effectively smoke-free in all public places. The purpose of the new legislation is to promote public health and to reduce smoking among population.

The American Lung Association released a report on Sept. 8 which found that fewer college students are smoking than ever before.

Of 40 people surveyed in an informal Scottish Football Association (SFA) poll, only four said that they smoke occasionally.

"I think its crap that I can't smoke in a bar. I understand not being able to smoke in a restaurant, but you should be allowed to smoke in a bar," said Joey Smith, Houston senior.

In a study was shown that students at 109 schools reported seeing tobacco promotions in an event on campus.
Most smokers think that the smoking ban is a good idea for restaurants because kids are around.

Also, The American Lung Association calls upon the higher education community to join the Smoke free Air 2010 Challenge, a nationwide movement for to eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke in public places and workplaces no later than 2010.

For example here are a few policies and initiatives suggested for this school year:

Provide smoking cessation programs to all students, faculty and staff; Promote and fund research to design and implement smoking and tobacco use interventions that specifically target college students.

Who can Help Pregnant Women to Quit?

After a full investigation of women who exercised regularly while expecting a baby, researchers found that physical effort may help pregnant women stop smoking.

The British scientists found also that the quitting rate was about the same as for people who use nicotine replacement.

Michael Ussher and colleagues from St. George's University of London said: "Our findings suggest that a physical activity intervention is feasible and acceptable as an aid to smoking cessation during pregnancy."

As it is known nicotine is one of the most addictive substances known that can lead to lower birth weight, higher infant mortality and is linked to learning difficulties and health problems in childhood.

According to a research, 17 percent of British women and 20 percent of women in the United States say they smoke during pregnancy.

Researchers added that even nicotine patches are one way to help smokers give up, but there are worries they may harm the fetus, leaving exercise as a healthy alternative for pregnant women.

In one trial, women exercised under supervision once a week for six weeks while in the other they worked out twice a week for the same length of time and then once weekly for three weeks. All received counseling and help to stop smoking.

The studies found that the women exercised at a moderate pace and the main activity was walking. A quarter of the 32 women gave up smoking before giving birth.

Information Provided by: Our Cigarettes