My whole life, my family has warned me about the dangers of choosing to smoke. From before I could remember to when I was in high school, everyone around me was telling me not to smoke because it would kill my lungs. Those hundreds of people must have had the same exact idea for a reason, maybe they were right.

Along with the hundreds of people who told me about the dangers of smoking, the staff at Iowa State also does not condone smoking on campus. In fact, Iowa passed a law called the Smokefree Air Act, which says that smoking is prohibited within closed spaces, in places of business and some outdoor areas. This is not a restriction of rights, this is just a law protecting everyone from death by lack of oxygen due to the fact cigarettes kill lungs. 

Yes, we are all adults and able to buy cigarettes after 18 years of not being able to. But being 18 doesn’t mean you are immune to what comes out of cigarettes. For some, smoking may feel like it makes them seem more like an adult, cooler, more rebellious and less dependent on their parents.

Iowa State thinks that looking cool and like a rebel doesn’t make it OK to damage other people’s lungs, much less your own. Still, students disregard the signs and warnings set up on campus and decide to light up anyway. This is extremely disrespectful not only toward the people who have advised you against smoking but also to those around you who have chosen not to smoke. 

Smoking is the number one preventable cause of death in the United States according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 480,000 people die each year from the side effects of smoking. Some of those side effects include cardiovascular disease, blood clots and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. People who smoke have an increased risk of heart disease, strokes and lung cancer.

Somehow, people weigh the risks versus the benefits and, knowing everything I’ve listed above, still decide to smoke. Smokers disregard their health and the health of others through second hand smoke. I’ve come to enjoy clean, fresh air. Why ruin it with the smell of burning tobacco and tar?

Not smoking provides so many benefits. If you’re thinking about quitting or thinking about helping someone else quit, click here to see some ways to do so. And if you do decide to smoke, respect those around you and don’t smoke on campus.