The Student Health Center is taking a stand to help students quit their smoking habits.

The Health Center is currently offering one-on-one student counseling to those who wish to quit smoking.

Students are presented with facts about health risks associated with smoking so they can make an educated choice about whether or not to quit.

“Sometimes students want to quit, but they need the extra help,” said Health Educator Cyndra Krogen.

Students Taking Action Against Nicotine Dependency (STAND) puts out another program that is offered to students. STAND offers a smoking cessation class once each semester for students to talk about their smoking habit.

“It’s laid back, we don’t pressure anyone here,” Krogen said.STAND was awarded a grant, which allows the organization to research and study students who smoke at CSUS.

The grant will end December 2003.

STAND found that 7.1 percent of students use tobacco everyday and 19.8 percent of students have used tobacco at least once in the last 30 days.

Those who have used tobacco at least once a day in the past 30 days are called social smokers.

“Social smoking can be dangerous too, because sometimes it only takes six cigarettes to become addicted. The prime smoking target is 18 to 24 year-olds,” Krogen said.

According to the Hazards of Smoking Web site, 11,000 people die every year from smoking and one person dies every five minutes due to a smoking-related disease.

Smoking also affects non-smokers.

Those who are non-smokers are exposed to the harsh chemicals in tobacco and may suffer from passive smoking, which is breathing other people’s second-hand smoke.

Smoking is also related to numerous diseases such as lung cancer, according to the National Heath Services Web site.

“Smoking is a nasty habit that serves no purpose. It’s costly, your clothes smell and it can have serious affects on your health. It also affects those around who don’t smoke,” Senior Stephanie Perez said.