Smoking on Campus/Public Places - Essay Example

Bearing in mind the injurious effects of smoking on human health and the environment, smoking should be banned in public places or should be done in isolation. This paper seeks to give background information about smoking on campus and public places, its effects, how authorities have in the past years tried to address and further seek action from the concerned parties. Body Cigarette smoking remains a menace and a source of danger to millions of people around the world. However, law enactments if properly formulated can help net its effects and dangers to the environment.

Passive smoking particularly in public places such as areas of work and academic institutions is of particular interest in this research. This is because of the wide range of dangers posed to those who operate in these environments in terms of their safety and health. To reduce these dangers, there is a need for the governments and other authorities to formulate necessary laws to curb cigarette consumption in public places. It is worth noting that most states and learning institutions all over the world have already formulated and implemented laws prohibiting smoking behaviors in public places, while others are considering drafting more tough rules.

In the contrary, cigarette companies are putting up stiff measures to counter these laws either by weakening the already made legislations or preventing formulation of new ones in their effort to maintain a steady market. This has generated a hot debate on whether or not smoking should be allowed in learning institutions and public arenas. But on a neutral point of view one question is asked on whether banning of cigarette smoking in campus and public places is legal or not, does it infringe on the rights of smokers?

In order to understand the basis for the debate and come up with a consensus, it is imperative to look at the factors behind smoking among students on campus. Factors for smoking among college students Most college students cite various reasons for smoking notable among others reduction of weight, stress, habitual reasons, social interaction and advertisements by tobacco companies. Stress Smoking students allege that cigarettes have the ability to reduce stress, emotional imbalance and anxiety often suffered in the course of study.

It has been observed that most smokers in college often smoke after a stressful event or situations created by the campus study structure. Thus most students smoke when they are depressed a situation that normally occurs during or after an examination period. As asserted by American Lung Association “college students report they often use smoking as a means of controlling stress and depression, and may smoke to signal their friends or classmates when they are distressed or unhappy” (American Lung Association 2008).

Weight loss Nicotine contained in cigarettes can cause to some extent reduced appetite especially for female students. They therefore use cigarette smoking as a tool for cutting weight. Though this may be the case, smoking behavior acquired in college or campus by the victims may continue even after campus because of addiction. The idea of how cigarette smoking can act as an effective tool in weight reduction provokes its consumption. Social interaction reasons Some students smoke as a way of socialization.

This normally takes place during breaks or even after studies. Smoking has a direct link with