Some smokers not interested in getting help

Smokers are a common sight along the sidewalks of KU's campus, and although some are looking to drop the habit, a support group notices that many are not.

Circle of Support, a year-old KU support group to help female smokers quit, struggles to meet its goal. The group planned on helping 100 women stop smoking, but the program is attracting more faculty and staff than traditional students, said the KU Student Wellness Manager, Melissa Smith.

"We're thinking that it's because a lot of our students, we know from our data, are not yet regular, everyday smokers," Smith said. "A lot of them are considered social smokers."

Smith said that these "social smokers" smoke on weekends or when they go out and therefore don't think of themselves as smokers.

Although the support group struggles for student participation, freshman smoker Jennifer Duckworth sees benefits of the group.

Duckworth believes that if there are people willing to help and people are willing to quit, people will want to attend meetings and recieve the help that is provided.

Circle of Support is offered until June 30th. However, KU Student Health Services continue to offer free cessation counseling for both males and females.