I'm curious to find out what you all think about this issue. Should medical schools in general, or even specifically RUSM, ban smoking of any kind on campus?

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MitchDC/MD
RUSM 2006 Graduate

trying to kiss up to Tweedy so he gives you a ride in his plane? I love that guy.

just kidding, I hate smoking and think it should be banned in all public places. If you want to smoke, stay in your own home or car and do it.

Although, I guess if everyone quit smoking I won't have as many lungs to cut out someday... job security



RR

Interesting distribition of answers. Do you guys mind explaining the reason behind the answer you chose? Hopefully we can get more votes too.

MitchDC

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MitchDC/MD
RUSM 2006 Graduate

As long people dont smoke in buildings then I dont mind it so much.

People can do whatever they want to their bodies, I dont control their lives.

Maybe they should get the body of a chain smoker for the anatomy lab so people can see what happens to their lungs when they smoke.

People are voting to ban smoking everywhere on a medical campus. Smoking should be banned in any area that's enclosed and within a certain distance from it, but what is the point of banning smoking outside on a lawn or designated smoking areas? For some people smoking is all they got and that's ok its entirely the smokers business as long as they do it in designated areas or outside where second hand smoking is not an issue, unless you are standing within a foot from the person and in that case you can just walk away if you don't like it. I personally quit smoking after a LONG period of HEAVY smoking and it was easier than i thought, but banning smoking makes smokers angry, do we want angry people walking around? Take a look at new york, smoking just got banned in all public enclosed places like bars and restaurants and people are pretty damn pissed (even non-smokers) i hate smoke and everything to do with it, but banning it outside is absurd.

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Rx---FEAR

What kind of smoke are we banning>?

If cigarettes are considered a control substance, and if one needs a Rx for a "patch", then it would be logical to say that cigarettes have been a controlled drug openly sold over the counter for decades. So, as professors of medical doctrine, unless it is medically required it should not be prescribed or used.

I fail to see where this destructive drug is a necessity, especially, if addiction is a disease. We therefore cannot sit on the idea that just because it was okay to use before that it will be okay forever more.

We must practice what we preach.

Well yes indeed nicotine is a destructive drug but it is legal and if you decide that no one should use it then why stop there, attack the alcohol as well, and when you say you fail to see that this drug is a necessity especially if addiction is a disease?? if its a disease then it should most definitely be allowed, just like you would prescribe something like paxil for social disorders. you can't tell people to stop smoking because where would you stop? everything is toxic at a point. If you don't want to smoke then don't, like i chose not to do any longer.

Anyway the issue is not nicotine itself, but the smoke... smoke bothers people, but if you practice this recreational habit then you should be free to do so, campus or not, like i said as long as you do it in designated areas, it should be none of anyones buisness... i voted the third choice, Yes but in specific areas...

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Rx---FEAR

I think I said, " unless it is medically required.."

Anyway, the point is, for any drug, or medium containing a drug, if it is harmful to the wellness of the person it should not be used. That is why they have a thing called the nicotine patch for cigarette addiction, so it can be controlled. Now, for the relationship of alcohol to nicotine, any amount of cigarette smoking is harmful. Whereas alcohol can be beneficial. Yes, everything is toxic to a point, but cigarette smoking is toxic as soon as one lights up. With regards to it being legal, well, there are alot of things that were once legal, but because of advancements in knowledge it is no longer the case. Examples, helmets and seatbelts. Or, if one was trying to get approval for cigarette use through the FDA today it would never happen. BLA BLA BLA.

As far as doing it in the privacy of, because it is a habit, well, your right to smoke does not allow you to step on the rights of those who are innocent bystanders, ie/ second hand smoke. Or any behavior for that matter. But if you want to in the privacy of your own home, go for it, just as long as I don't have to walk through it on my way to wherever.

Anyway, it is not the smoke, it is the chemicals that is in the smoke that is the hazard.

Yes you are right about not being subjected to walking and breathing in toxic fumes (traffic should be banned?) but i was just saying that in designated smoking areas you would not be walking through and therefore the students of a medical campus should not be denied the right to smoke as long as it is done at specified areas but even if you're walking down a road you catch a tiny whiff of smoke does it bother you that much? has it always bothered you? how do you walk down the street at home? again im not arguing with you about the fact that smoking is horrible im just saying that it should not be restricted just to the privacy of your own home.

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Rx---FEAR

I really hate smoke,,, but that doesn't mean that I have the right to tell someone you can't smoke, they have rights also.
If they are outside and not in a building I dont think is wrong.
This world should be free.
"tus derrechos empiezan cuando el de él se terminan" A old saying about LAW this means "your rights begins when his rights ends..."
Also,,, I would like for everybody to look for the only 2 real studies, about second hand smoking the same document that the goverment is using to say that second hand smoking is bad. In that very same study it reveals that there is not a direct link of cancer to second hand smoking only to smokers.
So there is not really hard data for second hand smoking. Until then we can't take aways peoples rights.