The Great American Smokeout, an event aimed to encourage people on campus to quit smoking, was held as a part of the nationwide effort to help people to live healthier and happier lives.
Relay for Life, which holds events on campus every month to raise awareness of a different cancer, held the Smokeout in Founder’s Hall Lobby from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 18.
Students also had the option of leaving their cigarettes in a container in exchange for candy.
According to Nikki Mosco, junior political science and history major and Relay for Life member, one student left half a carton. The number of students that participated also surprised Mosco.
“We did not expect this kind of turnout,” Mosco said.
For Mosco, the success of the event was personally gratifying.
“My grandfather had a form of lung cancer. He smoked when he was younger but quit when he was older. He died nine months after he was diagnosed,” Mosco said.
Over three hundred students and faculty members also signed a petition urging legislators to pass a tax on smokeless tobacco products and cigars.
Pennsylvania is the only state without a tax on smokeless tobacco and one of two states that taxes cigars, the other being Florida.
Mosco believes that the revenue gained through the tax should be put towards cancer research.
Mary Jo Rose, associate nurse at Cabrini College, said lung problems and increases in asthma and upper respiratory infections are common with people who smoke. According to Rose, one of the long term effects of smoking is lung cancer.
“For the college age group, it’s a habit you don’t want to get involved in and you don’t want it 20 or 30 years from now,” Rose said. “And it’s expensive, especially for college students who don’t have a lot of money.”
“I used to smoke occasionally and I would say that I haven’t quit entirely yet because when I get stressed out, it relieves my stress,” Allie Jeter, sophomore psychology and communication major, said.
“I have not been smoking in nearly a month and a half but one reason why I don’t smoke at all now is because I choose to spend my money more wisely instead of spending it on cigarettes,” Jeter said.
Jeter said the main reason why she would not actively try to stop smoking altogether is because she is busy and cannot find the time to implement a stop smoking regimen.
Rose said there are plenty of resources available for those who truly want to quit smoking. Seeking counseling and having a support group are strong ways to quit smoking for young adults.
The American Cancer Society’s website, cancer.org, offers resources for those who want to quit.
“The average person tries to quit seven times before they’re effective,” Rose said. “Keep trying to quit is the best way to stop.”
