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Social Smoking-Is It Really Worth It?

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Elon chapter.

We hear it everyday, from Kindergarten though our college years: Smoking is bad.  Okay, most of us listen.  But try as we might, it’s harder to avoid temptation when we are in a social setting, especially when that setting involves alcohol.  We tell ourselves, “This is my last cigarette,” once, twice, every weekend.  We even see pop culture television shows on the subject, watch our friends make the same mistake, yet somehow social smoking still seems seductive to the college mind.

According to the educated minds of CNN, “Social smokers aren’t hooked on nicotine, just smoking.”  This group is comprised of those of us who don’t like to buy packs of cigarettes, but prefers to search for one in a social setting in order to find a friend to light up with.  However, despite the addiction not being physical, social smoking can have its dangers.  Your risk for lung cancer increases when you smoke at all and for those using birth control, smoking significantly increases the chance of a blood clot. 
If these health concerns aren’t a concern to you, a drunken stumble resulting in a cigarette burn can really ruin a weekend!
            

Avery is a sophomore at Elon University majoring in Print Journalism. She's involved with the yearbook, Phi Psi Cli, and the newspaper, The Pendulum, as well as a four year honors program called Leadership Fellows, and is also a member of Alpha Xi Delta, Theta Nu Chapter. Born and raised at the real Jersey Shore, she loves the beach, traveling, writing, running, and shopping. She recently studied abroad in Costa Rica for January Term, and hopes to go abroad for a semester in the fall of 2011. She hopes to move to Manhattan after she graduates and work for a women's magazine. Avery is excited to have the chance to bring Her Campus to Elon University.