A new requirement regarding graphic labels on cigarette packages was blocked by a U.S. district judge Monday, the Associated Press reported.

The labels, approved by the Food and Drug Administration, would have featured images of healthy lungs next to smoker’s lungs, cigarette smoke close to an infant’s face and a dead smoker on an autopsy table, among others.

Whether using hookah, chew, cigars, or cigarettes, most students face the issues of the use of tobacco and its risks at some point during their years at U. Kansas.

Current smokers are aware of the risks associated with their habits. Jerry Goscha, a KU junior from Salina, smokes 10 rolled cigarettes daily.

“It seems that nonsmokers are ignorant that we are aware of the ramifications of smoking,” Goscha said. “We think about it. We’re not oblivious to the fact that we’re slowly killing ourselves.”

Having quit for six months a few years ago, Goscha, like many smokers, hopes that he will be able to quit again someday.

“We like to think so, but none of us really know,” he said. “A big part of it is the social aspect.”

Sean Ryan, a KU graduate student from Prairie Village, just quit smoking in December after smoking for 14 years, beginning when he was 15 years old.

“It was hard to ride bikes for long distances, and I was sick all the time,” Ryan said. “I didn’t want to keep living that unhealthy lifestyle.”

Although Ryan had tried to quit before, his motivation was greater this time because he was about to turn 30. Quitting cold turkey, he feels like he has a good handle on the habit even if he has cheated every once in a while.

“When you go from smoking a pack a day to one cigarette every few months, I feel that’s an accomplishment,” he said.

Now that he has quit, he has seen his health improve significantly. He does not get sick, cough or tire as easily. However, he did not see these effects until several months after quitting, even though he thought improvement would be instantaneous.

As for those who smoke socially – that is, only in particular settings – Ryan cautions them.

“That’s how we all started out. It seemed OK because it was just social smoking,” he said.

According to Health magazine, 60 percent of college students who denied being smokers considered themselves social smokers. Of those, 10 percent said they smoked at least every other day.

Ken Sarber, health educator at the U. Kansas Wellness Resource Center, points out how social smoking often leads to an addiction.

“The problem with social smoking is that it doesn’t stay as a social smoking habit,” Sarber said. “Most people don’t start with the idea of becoming addicted.”

Hookah, thought by many to be a healthier alternative to cigarettes, also presents significant health risks in spite of misconceptions. According to the Center for Disease Control, smoking hookah for an hour is the equivalent of smoking 100 to 200 cigarettes in terms of volume of smoke. The smooth, flavorful draw of the hookah pipe allows a user to ingest a greater amount of tobacco smoke without the kick that cigarettes give.

Sarber administrates KanQuit, an on-campas tobacco cessation program.

“I sit down and help individuals who come in cover all their triggers associated with smoking,” Sarber said.

The program lasts six weeks, during which Sarber helps students formulate a unique set of challenges in hopes they will be smoke free upon completion. The program is free to students and entirely confidential.

“Most people try to quit five or six times on their own before asking for help,” Sarber said. “Even if they’re not sure that they’re ready we can still discuss their options about what their best quit options would be.”

As for those who are trying to quit, Ryan has encouraging words.

“If you fail at it, don’t think it’s final,” he said. “You have to really want to quit.”