A message from Breathe Easy Geneseo: How nicotine affects us all

Earlier this year, Pamela Kosmowski, Geneseo’s Addiction Counseling and Prevention Program Coordinator, received a grant from The Truth Initiative to aid an anti-smoking campaign here on campus—“Breathe Easy Geneseo.” Those who are fighting to make Geneseo a smoke-free campus are making efforts to inform the student demographic about lung health, addiction, and nicotine. 

Students who work with Breathe Easy Geneseo are equipped with information provided by Truth Initiative. The reality is that we’re unique in our identities and beliefs, and the effects of nicotine have the potential to reach all of us. Since the goal of this rising campaign is to educate, students with different values and concerns are addressed in this message from Breathe Easy Geneseo. 

According to the Truth Initiative, tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, with 540,000 deaths each year. Those who smoke long-term may have a reduced life expectancy by 25 years, and a five-times greater risk of developing lung cancer. Nicotine in the form of JUULs and Puff Bars can have nicotine levels as high as five percent, more than double the highest nicotine concentration allowed in the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada. 

Secondhand smoke contains more than 7,000 chemical compounds and is responsible for the death of 41,000 adults and 400 infants each year. Approximately 7,300 of those nonsmoker deaths derive from lung cancer, and approximately 34,000 from cardiovascular disease.

Research shows that smokers are at an increased risk of developing cataracts, resulting in a loss of eyesight. In addition, the cochlea, an important part of the ear, can receive a reduced amount of oxygen, which can be associated with hearing loss. Youthful skin is another attribute harmed by smoking; along with aging your skin, smoking weakens your ability to heal wounds and increases the likelihood of skin conditions.

Nicotine alters the way synapses form, harming parts of the brain that control attention and learning, memory, concentration,self-control, and mood. While shortness of breath is one of the symptoms all consumers of nicotine experience, vapes contain an artificial flavoring called Diacetyl, which is a common link to lung disease.

The production and consumption of tobacco releases a yearly amount of carbon dioxide equivalent to driving 17-million gas-powered cars each year. In 2021, 718,217 pounds of toxic chemicals were released from US Tobacco facilities. When Tobacco farmers clear their land, which is abandoned after only a few seasons, they typically burn it. This contributes to desertification and increases greenhouse gas levels.

Dogs and cats are twice as likely to develop nasal cancer, respiratory issues, and lung cancer if their owner smokes. There is also a misconception that vaping reduces stress; studies have shown that nicotine can worsen anxiety symptoms and amplify feelings of depression. When attempting to quit nicotine, stress is a common withdrawal symptom; this is why vaping is frequently related to the feeling of stress relief. In addition, e-cigarette users have double the odds of having a diagnosis of depression compared to those who have never vaped. Notably, it’s been reported that 90 percent of those who quit nicotine say they felt less stressed, anxious, and depressed.

The mission of Breathe Easy Geneseo is to help spread awareness and help SUNY Geneseo become a smoke-free campus. If you’re interested in learning more about this campaign, you can follow their Instagram: @breatheeasysunygeneseo.