Study shows high risk of smoking starting in college

Jennifer Knight

Monday, March 17, 2003 | 10:59 a.m.

Most University of Nevada, Las Vegas, students who smoke began after they started college, according to Clark County Health District study released today.

The Health District surveyed 816 undergraduate students about smoking habits and attitudes and found that 26 percent of students smoke while 22 percent began their habit in college.

"We're very concerned with the amount of students who are starting to smoke once they get to college," said Mandi York, health educator for the Clark County Health District Tobacco Control Program.

The percentage of students who smoke at UNLV falls below national and county averages. About 36 percent of college students nationwide smoke and 29.4 percent of Clark County residents smoke.

Still, county health officials recognize college students are more at risk to begin smoking than originally thought.

"We originally thought that high school students were the biggest risk, but I believe that since the tobacco industry cannot legally target kids 18 and under, they are going to the college campuses and targeting college students."

Of those who smoke, 52 percent admitted to making a serious attempt to quit. About 86 percent said they preferred to date a non-smoker and 80 percent said they prefer to socialize in a smoke-free environment.

What those figures tell health officials is that student smokers don't want to smoke but find themselves hooked.

"It's interesting," York said. "I think that nicotine is so addictive that most of these people don't want to be smoking. They do think this is harmful."

Most college smokers light up in social situations, according to today's study. About 77 percent reported smoking when they drank and 63 percent smoked to "take a break."

County officials are using the tobacco study as a baseline for follow-up surveys in years to come to find out how smoking cessation programs on campus are working.

The county currently has several anti-tobacco ads on campus to reach out to students, such as smoking cessation help lines advertised on the back of bathroom doors and posters tacked up in the student union giving students important smoking statistics.

"We really haven't had a chance to evaluate these programs," York said. "We're hoping that these programs work."