Ban smoking on campus. Having a cigarette, inhaling its smoke and creating smog around you has become a norm, or let's say a fashion symbol for students today. This is very disturbing as these young people form the educated, intelligent and bright cadres of our future.

They are well aware of the harmful side effects of smoking, the meaning of the "injurious to health" warning on cigarette packs. Day by day younger and younger students are following this path and ruining themselves.

The tragedy is that non-smokers, or passive smokers as they are known, are at the receiving end too as they inhale the smoke and fall prey to the risk of heart disease and lung cancer too.

It is also shocking to see the number of female smokers growing at such an alarming rate. They not only hold their future in their hands but also that of coming generations.

Beating stress

Considering the current situation, smoking on campus must be banned. Or at the very least a designated area for smoking must be enforced, so others don't bear the brunt of its ill effects.

Parents, teachers and ministry officials should join forces to find out the reasons that compel young people to smoke. The main excuse that students give is that they are stressed because of the study workload and the parental pressure to excel academically.

Parents have an incredibly important role to play as they are the role models for their children. They should understand that it's not easy for their children to quit smoking all at once; so they should be patient and listen carefully to their child's apprehensions and grievances, work on them and help them overcome the habit.

As for the officials, they should see to it that universities and colleges adhere to proper safety precautions, restrict the sale of tobacco products and their advertisements on campus and strictly implement the no-smoking policy.

I would like to make a special mention of Abu Dhabi Women's College, which provides a smoke-free environment to its students, and is an example for others to follow.

By Rukhasana Q. Baig, Notes Intern

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