We are pleased that the Argus is choosing to cover faculty research, especially research which directly reflects the health issues most relevant to students on campus.
Professor Jennifer Rose’s research on female smokers, as reported in the September 22nd edition of the Argus, cited that cessation techniques must be tailored to the varying needs of different populations of female smokers. This is true no matter the gender of the individual since smokers smoke for differing reasons. Therefore, it follows they would quit for different reasons as well.
However, the September 29th article, “New study on female smokers,” focused primarily on smokers, potentially skewing the perception that the majority of women on campus smoke, which is far from the truth. According to the National College Health Assessment (NCHA), conducted in Fall 2005 (n=16,832)*, 61% of college women and 60% of college men have never used tobacco in their lifetime.
A vast majority of students—73%—reported in the same survey that they did not use tobacco in the previous month. However, other students perceive that a mere 10% have not used tobacco in the same time period.
The fact is, only 8% of college students are daily smokers, with men smoking slightly more than women. However, being forced to walk through a cloud of smoke when entering a building or while at a party can certainly promote the perception that smoking is the rule rather than the exception.
Both articles also failed to point out the availability of tobacco cessation services on campus. Health Services offers free tobacco cessation services for students with a tobacco cessation specialist, Joyce Walter. These are available in individual appointments or in group settings and include discussion of over-the-counter and prescription nicotine replacement aids. Go to www.wesleyan.edu/healthservices and click on Smoking Cessation.
In addition, WesWELL, the Office of Health Education, periodically sponsors workshops on various aspects of tobacco and health, including supporting a friend in quitting. Look for workshops to be offered in mid-November. Additionally, many links for tobacco information and Internet-based cessation support are available through the WesWELL website. Go to www.wesleyan.edu/weswell and click on Tobacco.
We encourage the Argus to continue covering health issues relevant to students. We also ask that future coverage include information on campus resources that assist students in addressing these issues in their own lives.
Sincerely,
Lisa Currie, Joyce Walter
*American College Health Association. American College Health Association – National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA) Web Summary. Updated April 2006. Available at http://www.acha.org/projects_programs/ncha_sampledata.cfm
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