College is a time for experimentation, a time when individuals can try new things before "real" life begins. Tobacco, like alcohol, is a substance that is most often part of this "experimentation." Few students that smoke consider themselves legit smokers, but rather social smokers. Social smoking is most common among young adults, primarily in college, and tends to be on the lighter side. In a college setting, social smoking revolves around party life, where students smoke cigarettes with friends while drinking. This trend may seem harmless, as most students declare they won't "do this forever" and is an isolated experience, but studies have shown that smoking rates are highest among 18- to 34-year-olds.
It's no surprise to anyone when said that young adulthood is a pivotal time in the development of smoking behavior; college students who smoke do not stick to a set behavior or routine as adult smokers. In fact, studies suggest that “the number of individuals aged 18 and 19 years in the early stages of smoking initiation may be more than double that of established smokers aged 18 years.” Perhaps most interesting, yet unsurprising (reference "time of experimentation") individuals who once claimed to detest smoking may end up taking up the habit in college, whether it be strictly in social contexts or independent usage.
The question that may arise is why the change? College life has not changed, the concepts of experimentation or partying are not new so what is to explain the studies finding the higher rates? The explanation may lie in the environment millennials have grown up in. In the decade-long trend of decreased rates in smoking are due to social stigma of smoking, increased costs and greater awareness of health risks. The difficulty is that these college age smokers don't label themselves as such in order to avoid the stigmatization that accompanies the habit. Students admitted to researchers that in the midst of a party smoking seems to be the "in" thing and is natural in the habitat, but in daily life wouldn't want to be labelled as a smoker due to the known health risks and connection to lower class status.
After the movements led to take down smoking trends in the 90's, tobacco companies have been struggling to find a way to gain the new smoker platform. Marketing for these brands persuades the public to believe it is possible to be health-conscious smoker by using "light” cigarettes—a belief that is held widely by colleges students, yet is only a misconception. Light cigarettes or other "spin-offs" are not better for health than regular cigarettes, and often those who use them smoke more often (thinking they are healthier), so they receive just as much nicotine as a regular cigarette. College students often fall into the marketing ploys for additive-free cigarettes as well. However, studies reveal that additive-free cigarettes have substantial amounts of toxic components of tobacco smoke.
The greatest danger of the increased smoking rates among college students is their belief that it is only a temporary choice and won't cause any future health effects. Mimi Nichter explains in her book on increased millennial smoking that this idea of experimentation smoking being short lived isn't always the case.
There is a growing body of evidence, however, to suggest that even social and low-level smokers have difficulty in quitting, despite their desire to do so. And among regular smokers, national survey data have shown that of the more than 50 percent who tried to quit during the previous year, only 6 percent reported successfully doing so. Relapse rates are notoriously high.
She goes on to reiterate the health effects of smoking and it's immediate effects. Even social smokers put themselves at risk, no matter their intentions of quitting in the near future. It is a general misconception that smoking rates are at an all time low and continually growing less and less popular (cue vape joke). The most important take away is that smoking rates among college students are greater than all other age groups; while millennials are the greatest percentage of smoking, they are also the most likely to hide it. Social smoking is still smoking and necessary health precautions should be advised. Millennials are children of technology and new innovations, let's avoid reversing to the past trends of tobacco addiction and lung cancer and focus on brighter and healthier futures.
