More Students Stop Smoking

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Santiago Ferreira recently quit smoking.

"I just don't want to do it because it is bad. Actually, because I sing too," Ferreira said. "It was bad for my singing. I just didn't want to do it."

Research released this month by the American Lung Association shows a national rise in the number of college students who have quit smoking cigarettes. Students at the University of Kansas can get help doing just that through a cessation program at Watkins Health Center. Ken Sarber, health educator and leader of the program, said he had noticed less students smoking on KU's campus than ever.

"When I was there to talk to students about smoking, and it was really hard to find students that were smoking. So, that's always a good sign when you're having a hard time finding people," Sarber said.

This year a number of colleges prohibited smoking, such as San Antonio University and University of Southern Main. An increase in anti-smoking ads and billboards have also helped informed students of the negative side effects of smoking. Sarber said he hoped KU students would follow this trend and become part of the American Lung Association's Smokefree Air 2010 Challenge.