Don’t smoke

On campus smoking and use of drugs have become quite common in the young generation of the country. Smoking cigarette is seen as a social activity to have friendly discussions with peers during lunch-breaks etc. Although ban has been imposed and students are restricted to smoke, a lot of students still smoke on campus and in hostels. There is a dire need for anti-smoking campaigns and programmes in education institutions. According to a few media reports, 31.9 percent of students smoke to deal with depression.

However, students do not realise the side effects of smoking. They do not know how injurious smoking is for their health. According to the World Health Organization, short-term consequences of smoking include respiratory and heart disease. A smoker is also at greater risk of getting a heart attack. Smoking affects physical fitness too. Early-age smoking increases the risk of lung cancer. Spreading information and arranging awareness campaigns about the harmful effects of smoking can be helpful in curbing early-age smoking. Awareness and prevention programs that use honest and factual information about physical and psychological effects of smoking may help influence teens to stay away from smoking.

Dilawar Hussain

Lahore