Casual smoking is not a good idea in the frat house – or the White House

"President Barack Obama won two-thirds of the 18-29 year old vote, thanks largely to his popularity among college students. As a role model, however, the president has one habit that students would be better off not imitating: his widely-reported intermittent cigarette smoking. Contrary to what many college-age casual smokers believe, they are at risk for becoming addicted to tobacco, as well as more likely to drink too much alcohol, exercise too little and experience more depression. These are some of the findings of a new study that will be published this spring led by Abigail Halperin, M.D., M.P.H., director and attending physician for the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Smoke Free Life Program, a service of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center/SCCA Cancer Prevention Clinic and Lung Cancer Early Detection Clinic." - newswise