A large amount of the population of the students at Lewis-Palmer high school smoke cigarettes. About 90% of all smokers started as teen smokers. A big issue at Lewis-Palmer high school is where these students should go to smoke.

 The Colorado law states that smoking or any tobacco is prohibited on school grounds. Accordingly, the general assembly finds and declares that it is appropriate to create a safe and healthy school environment by prohibiting the use of tobacco products on all school property.

 Students that are underclassmen also are not allowed to go off campus, so if they need a cigarette break it is very inconvenient and can cause too many troubles.

The block schedule presents another issue. The classes are longer and sometimes students need a break from the hour and a half period.

“Sometimes I just get super stressed out and need a cigarette break, but there are issues with me going off campus and it’s always a struggle,” an anonymous underclassman at Lewis-Palmer said.

Most students who smoke don’t think it’s fair that there is not a general area for smoking. A lot of students do not want other students and staff to know that they smoke so it’s harder to find a spot where people will not see and criticize.

I think that it’s very unfair to students because sometimes it is too cold to walk all the way outside to the curb and sit there and freeze while trying to smoke. Also, I think that during class no matter what students should get a 10 minute break and they can either chose to go smoke or study or etc. Sometimes you just need a break for your brain and yourself.

It is understandable that there is a strict no tobacco policy around school boards everywhere, but with the way our campus is set up makes for a tricky situation. Lewis-palmer is located in the middle of nowhere centered between the YMCA and the Woodmoor neighborhood. Soliciting in both of those areas are also illegal.

A big controversial topic with teen smoking is that some students at Lewis-Palmer are not of age to be smoking. Many think that a smoking area might encourage younger students to smoke.

As for the students who are of age, an area should be designated for them to smoke.