Social Smoking

Adult smokers never planned on becoming smokers.  Well, how do you think it happened to many of them you might ask?  For most of them, it started by having a cigarette when they were out partying or drinking with friends who smoked.  For others, it may have started when they were up late studying for an exam and wanted a break or something to help them stay awake.  At first, they'd have one or two socially.  Along the way, there may have been times when they'd even chain smoke during a cramming session.  Then, they’d smoke on and off for a few months, but didn’t consider themselves a smoker.  Before long, they were buying their own packs of cigarettes so they’d have some on hand if they wanted one.  And before they knew it, they were smoking almost every day.

 
This will be the story of many people who consider themselves “social smokers” in college.  At Clarkson, SLU, SUNY Canton and SUNY Potsdam, these people make up a significant percentage of the population.  They don’t consider themselves smokers, but they are in danger of becoming addicted.

“The nicotine doesn’t care if you’re a social smoker or not.  It reaches the brain within 10 seconds of taking a puff.  And it tells the brain that you want more.”   - BACCHUS and GAMMA “Social” Smoking Pamphlet

Social Smoking Harms Your Body.  Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, including several cancer causing agents. Here are some of the ingredients in tobacco smoke.

Every Cigarette is Causing You Damage.  Every cigarette causes the heart to work harder and just one cigarette causes blood pressure to spike.

Secondhand Smoke.  If there are other smokers around you when you smoke, you are placing yourself at even greater danger of heart damage.  Just 30 minutes of exposure to secondhand smoke can cause heart damage similar to that of a daily smoker.

Cigarettes Don’t Ease Stress.  Nicotine actually causes stress and increases anxiety.  Most smokers report feeling less stressed after they quit.