Young adults starting college may not fully understand the stresses that come with higher education, but relying on tobacco products as a coping mechanism is never the solution, says the NYS Quitline.
The statewide agency helping millions of New Yorkers quit smoking has issued a reminder, alongside medical experts, to highlight the harmful effects of smoking on young adults.
In Queens alone, there were 116,000 adults still smoking cigarette products and 98,000 using e-cigarettes in 2022, according to New York City Department of Health data. Further data showed that 2,000 public high school students were already smoking cigarettes in Queens.
Sarah Townley, a nurse practitioner who works in college health in New York City, says young adults entering college often lack sufficient awareness about the harms of tobacco and nicotine.
“For college students, it can be particularly difficult to quit tobacco or nicotine products, as they view the products as stress-relieving and encounter many opportunities to use them in social situations,” Townley said.
Townley adds that some adults attending college perceive new nicotine products as safer and more socially acceptable to use. However, the newer products are actually highly addictive.
Kristen Corcoran, a registered nurse and health educator at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York, also shares that a large portion of college students have already experienced severe effects of nicotine addiction. She says it is even more critical for them to get help quickly.
“Healthcare professionals must talk about the harms more and guide young adults to help soon,” Corcoran said. “Some students are trying newer products like nicotine pouches to quit smoking or e-cigarette use, only to become even more addicted to nicotine.”
The National Institute of Mental Health, conducting research and spreading awareness on mental health for 75 years, confirms the adult brain continues to develop into the mid-20s. Using tobacco products, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes and other modern forms like nicotine pouches, stunts brain development.
E-cigarettes have also become a problem among adolescents, but The New York State Department of Health offers a texting program specifically to help young adults called “This is Quitting.” Young adults can text DROPTHEVAPE to 88709 for support. Two separate programs are available for those ages 13-17 and for those ages 18-24.
In many educational campuses across the city, healthcare professionals and educators can help students with their tobacco addiction through The New York State Quitline. Free services are also available in most cases
For college students and for the health and wellness professionals who support them on campus, the New York State Quitline says it remains ready seven days a week to help. Assistance begins with a phone call to 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487), a text to 333888 with the word QUITNOW or a visit to nysmokefree.com.
