It is no secret that smoking cigarettes takes a toll on your lungs and overall health. Whether you smoke every once in a while, like at a party with friends, or every single day, there is truly no safe way to smoke. Unfortunately, you can still feel pressure—whether it’s from a peer or the stress of a current class project—to reach for a cigarette. You may have even started the school year already smoking, and are now struggling to stop or at least start cutting back.
If you do find yourself in one of these situations, reach out for support. Campus wellness centers will typically have everything from hotline numbers to support groups—or information about where to find a local group. And if you haven’t smoked, but feel pressure to do so, there are things you can do to curb the temptation. You can chew gum, eat a healthy snack, or drink a glass of water. It can also help to think of the benefits of walking away from the habit. Not smoking lowers your risk of lung cancer and heart disease, protects those around you from secondhand smoke, makes it easier to breathe, and promotes endurance during exercise.