Smoking Among College Students
According to the American Cancer Society, smoking-related diseases remain the world's most preventable cause of death. Unfortunately, despite public warnings and educational initiatives, there have still been more than 12 million premature deaths attributable to smoking in the U.S. since 1964. Worldwide, the number jumps to 5.4 million each year.

Held annually on the third Thursday of November, the Great American Smokeout takes place on Nov. 18 this year. Consider sharing some of these telling statistics with your student in honor of this important day:

• An estimated 8.6 million people suffer from chronic conditions related to smoking, such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema and cardiovascular diseases.
  
• Smoking accounts for at least 30% of all cancer deaths and 87% of lung cancer deaths.
  
• The risk of developing lung cancer is about 23 times higher in male smokers and 13 times higher in female smokers compared to lifelong nonsmokers.
  
• Between 1965 and 2004, cigarette smoking among adults aged 18 and older declined by half from 42% to 21%, with rates further declining to 20% in 2007.
• Of particular note is that the 18-24 year old age group continues to have the highest smoking rate among all adults, according to www.bacchusgamma.org.

Some students begin using tobacco in college and most want to quit before they graduate. Unfortunately, it's not that easy.

Passive Smoking on the Increase
You can also raise awareness about the dangers of secondhand smoke. Researchers from the Section on Society and Health in the Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy have drawn attention to the increasing exposure of college students to secondhand smoke and the related health issues.

During a 2009 study, researchers surveyed more than 4,000 undergraduates, with 83% of them reporting having been exposed to secondhand smoke at least once in the last seven days (www.medindia.net). Students reported that most of the secondhand smoke exposure took place in a restaurant or bar, followed by in their home or in the same room. Daily and occasional smokers were more likely than nonsmokers to report exposure, as were binge drinkers. The researchers also found that students living in Greek houses or off-campus housing, attending a public school versus a private school, and those who are female or of white race appeared to be associated with increased exposure.

Sharing this information can be a real eye opener for your student — and his peers.