INSIDE DOUGLAS COLLEGE / JANUARY 8, 1991

 

 

 

 

Smokers To Be Weeded Out By Nursing Students

D esis College nursing stu-
dents want to give smokers some
breathing space on Weedless Wed-
nesday.

While reminding smokers at
the New Westminster campus
about health risks during the
January 23 national non-smoking
day, the students also aim to teach
non-smokers about the hard
realities of addiction.

"People who smoke know it’s
bad for them but it is extremely dif-
ficult to quit. One recent study
showed that nicotine can be as ad-
dictive as heroin," says student
Laurie Chobotar, a smoker herself.
"We're hoping to educate non-
smokers a bit, too. It’s true second-
hand smoke is harmful and you
should ask people not to smoke
around you. But people must un-
derstand that if you show support
for friends who smoke, instead of
just getting hostile, it can really
help them."

Aware of both the effects of
smoking from their training, and
understanding what messages will
reach college students, the student

nurses worked with faculty to cre-
ate projects for the central day of
National Non-Smoking Week,
January 21-25. Features at the cam-
pus will include smoking addic-
tion information and videos, the

 

chance to use a spirometer (a
machine that tests lung capacity)
and a trading post where smokers
can dunk cigarettes into a pickling
jar in exchange for a treat.
Information provided will
review the different reasons peo-
ple begin and continue smoking.

"Everyone’s addiction is dif-
ferent," says Chobotar. "Studies
have found men smoke more so-
cially while many women smoke
for stress reduction." -

Faculty coordinator Denise
Hawthorne notes that the em-
phasis is on information and un-
derstanding instead of quitting.
Weedless Wednesday used to be
Cold Turkey Day, but the name
was changed following disap-
pointing "cold turkey" results.

"If you aim too high you can’t
reach your goal in one day. If we
can show people they can do
without a cigarette for one day,
that’s a start," said Hawthorne.

Rounding out the need for
support, non- and ex-smokers will
also be invited to join a buddy sys-
tem based on Alcoholics
Anonymous to provide support
for quitters battling the lure of
another smoke.

Hawthorne says faculty will
be asked not to smoke in front of
students and everyone can pick
up a badge carrying the message:
"Stop Before You Drop." #

 

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British CoLumsiA AsiA Pacific AWARDS

Th. Ministry of Advanced Education, Training, and Technology, through the British
Columbia Centre for International Education, offers a variety of awards to public post-
secondary students and scholars who wish to develop their understanding of the cul-
tures, economics and languages of the Asia Pacific.

For scholars, the British Columbia Asia Pacific Scholars’ Awards provide support for
faculty and for professional staff interested in overseas opportunities.

For students, the British Columbia Asia Pacific Students’ Awards are designed to
support students who wish to attend rigorous formal programs of study in Asia Pacific
countries.

To be eligible for either of these awards, applicants must be Canadian citizens or
landed immigrants, and be permanent residents of British Columbia attending/working
in a public post-secondary institution.

For further information, contact Tad Hosoi at 527-5413 or the British Columbia Centre
for International Education at 687-2440. Their address is Ste. 215-409 Granville St.,
Vancouver, B.C., V6C 1T2. mf

 

 

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