When I was at Student Health recently, I found myself stumped by a routine question. The doctor asked if I was a smoker, followed by if I had ever smoked. I flashed him a confused look. Why had he asked me the same question twice? Students who have a cigarette every so often in social settings do not consider themselves smokers, he explained, adding that he finds it necessary to ask both questions to find out if his patient ever smokes.
People who consider themselves to be "social smokers" may never actually purchase their own pack of cigarettes, but if you step outside of the bar, they may join you to "bum a smoke." Social smoking is on the rise today, according to the Center for Disease Control. Of the 45 million American adults who admit to smoking cigarettes, 24 percent say they only smoke occasionally. Many of these occasional smokers believe they are eliminating the dangers of cigarettes by smoking irregularly. Little do they know that they are still vulnerable to many of the same health risks as regular smokers.
Social smokers look at smoking as a way to pass time, an opportunity to participate in a conversation taking place during a smoking break, a way to feel included. In doing so, they fail to acknowledge the extremely addictive quality of nicotine.\nWhen nicotine is inhaled, it reaches the brain within 10 seconds, making smokers feel calm. Smokers become hooked on the temporary high that nicotine produces, leading users to smoke more. Before they know it, addiction has set in.
According to the American Heart Association, nicotine can be more addictive than both heroin and cocaine. Social smokers believe that by not purchasing their own packs of cigarettes, they are escaping the temptation to feed their desire. They often ignore the fact that smoking someone else's cigarette has the same effect.
There are many health hazards associated with cigarettes, no matter how often or how many are smoked. Recent studies show that rarely smoking cigarettes can damage coronary artery function which can lead to heart disease. Researchers at the University of Georgia found that the arterial function of 'social smokers' was 36 percent less responsive than that of non-smokers. These tests show that there is no such thing as a safe amount of smoking; any type of smoker is putting themselves at risk of serious health problems such as cancer and heart disease, among others.
Patterns of social smoking show that the majority of those who smoke 'occasionally' during long periods of time are more likely to become dependent smokers than those who just don't smoke. The good news for all of the dependent and social smokers out there is that the American Society of Radiologic Technologists found that the risk of coronary heart disease can be reversed within at least one month of quitting smoking.
In conclusion, stay inside when the smokers step out. I'm sure the conversation isn't that interesting!
Jade Hall is a fourth-year College student. She can be reached at j.hall@cavalierdaily.com.
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