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Should Colleges Ban E-cigarettes in Campus

The challenging issue about the discussion is that e-cigarettes came after many college policies covering tobacco products were adopted. The debate remains to establish whether this form of smoking is covered under the tobacco products defined in these policies. College groups are deliberating on whether e-cigarettes should be included in this ban. Some groups are arguing that these devices that provide doses of nicotine using battery power are not healthy and would cause distractions in class. Others are suggesting that colleges should wait for research to be conducted on the devices before making these drastic decisions. This paper discusses whether e-cigarettes should be banned from campuses or not.

Not much is known about these devices and their long-term effect, which causes a lot of concern, part of which is raised by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Because as a society, we are working towards reducing the use of tobacco and minimizing addiction, banning e-cigarettes should go without question. The number of college students using e-cigarettes is alarming because they consider it safer than smoking. The number of college students who use e-cigarettes has risen dramatically from 6 percent to 18 percent by 2019 (Schaeffer). There is also substantial evidence that suggests, youths who use e-cigarettes start smoking within six months of the habit. Although the effects are not yet known, 450 people in over 30 states have been treated for life-threatening illnesses due to the use of these devices, with three people dying from severe lung infections believed to be connected to these devices (Bauer-wolf). The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has advised people to refrain from using these devices until these illnesses are investigated.

Also, e-cigarettes have played a role in encouraging college students to use marijuana, with approximately 11 percent of them reported having consumed the drug-using vaping by 2018 (Bauer-wolf). There are very many arguments against the move to ban e-cigarettes, many that are quite compelling. Colleges should focus their energy on cessation programs because the final goal is to reduce the prevalence of smoking among students even outside campus. The ban is not easy to enforce because of outsiders that are likely to frequent the numerous events hosted on campus. However, it is obvious the pros of this move outweigh the cons, and the primary goal should be to discourage the overall use of tobacco.

Works Cited

Bauer-wolf, J. “Study: College Students Using Marijuana, E-cigarettes at Record Rates.” Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Career Advice, Jobs, 9 Sept. 2019, www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/09/09/study-college-students-using-marijuana-e-cigarettes-record-rates.

Rogers, M. “Colleges Consider Whether E-cigarettes Are Covered by Bans on Smoking.” Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Career Advice, Jobs, 14 Oct. 2013, www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/10/14/colleges-consider-whether-e-cigarettes-are-covered-bans-smoking.

Schaeffer, K. “Before Recent Outbreak, Vaping Was on the Rise in U.S., Especially Among Young People.” Pew Research Center, 26 Sept. 2019, www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/09/26/vaping-survey-data-roundup/.