By, Mohammed Lukhman Haziq bin Mohammed Suffian
“We need to foster an environment where health and education are prioritized over harmful
trends and habits,” is a statement that underscores the urgent need to address the growing issue of
vaping, particularly within educational institutions. Vaping, the act of inhaling and exhaling
aerosol produced by e-cigarettes, has rapidly gained popularity, especially among young adults.
Marketed as a safer alternative to smoking, vaping presents significant health and social risks that
are often underestimated.
The primary concern with vaping lies in its impact on health. Contrary to widespread belief,
e-cigarettes are not harmless. The aerosols inhaled during vaping often contain harmful chemicals,
including formaldehyde and acrolein, which can cause severe lung damage over time. Moreover,
nicotine, a key component of most vaping products, is highly addictive and can lead to long-term
dependency. The risks are even more pronounced among young adults, as nicotine exposure can
impair brain development and increase the likelihood of addiction to other substances.
Vaping also disrupts academic settings by distracting students and diminishing their ability
to concentrate. The addictive nature of nicotine can lead to anxiety and restlessness, further
hampering focus. This not only affects individual academic performance but also the broader
campus environment. Vaping in communal areas reduces air quality, making spaces uncomfortable
for others. Banning vaping would foster a healthier and more conducive atmosphere for learning
while encouraging responsibility and promoting better community practices, according to Smith and Jones in 2020; CDC in 2022; and Brown and Taylor in a 2019 publication.
In brief, banning vaping in university compounds is a necessary step toward safeguarding
the health, academic success, and overall well-being of students and staff. By addressing this issue,
universities can create a more inclusive and productive environment, ensuring that campuses
remain spaces where students can thrive without the detrimental effects of vaping. Vaping should
be banned in university compounds to reduce health risks, improve academic performance, and
promote a better atmosphere for others.
Reducing Health Risks
Firstly, vaping, which is often considered as a harmless alternative to smoking, poses a lot
of health risks that justify it being banned in university compounds. Universities are supposed to
be safe environments for learning, innovation, and personal development, but vaping does not
ensure this atmosphere. The increased use of e-cigarettes, which are sometimes marketed as safer
than smoking, has led to more health problems among young people. This issue not only impacts
physical health but also distracts students from academic focus. Banning vaping on campus is a
crucial step to create a healthier and safer environment for everyone.
One major concern about vaping is its effect on lung health. E-cigarettes produce aerosol
by heating a liquid that contains nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals. Even though this aerosol
might seem less harmful than traditional cigarette smoke, it still contains harmful substances that
can damage the lungs over time. Continuous exposure to these chemicals causes inflammation,
irritation, and other respiratory problems. Braymiller in 2020 explained the symptoms of vaping
when he wrote:
Experimental studies show that exposure to nicotine and cannabis containing e-liquid
aerosols harm the respiratory system; however, human observational research on
respiratory symptoms associated with vaping are limited. Some observational and
epidemiologic studies have reported associations between nicotine vaping and chronic
respiratory outcomes (eg, chronic cough, phlegm, bronchitis, asthma) among both
adolescents and adults that are independent of combustible cigarette use.
For example, some students may vape recreationally thinking it is harmless, only to find
themselves struggling with reduced lung capacity during sports or physical activities. Furthermore,
studies suggest that repeated inhalation of the vapor weakens the lung’s defense mechanisms,
making it more vulnerable to infections like pneumonia or bronchitis. These problems could
become even worse over time, potentially leading to long-term respiratory illnesses. For a place
like a university, where the focus should be on health and wellness, allowing vaping only puts
more students at risk of developing these issues.
Another significant issue is the increased chance of developing cancer. Although vaping
is often marketed as “safer” than smoking, it still involves inhaling toxic chemicals into the body.
Research shows that the aerosol produced by e-cigarettes contains substances like formaldehyde
and acetaldehyde, which are known to damage cells and increase the risk of cancer. Over time,
regular vaping can lead to higher chances of lung cancer or even throat cancer. These
carcinogenic substances accumulate in the body and may take years before the damage becomes
noticeable, creating a false sense of safety for users. Moreover, flavored vape liquids, which are
popular among younger users, often include additional harmful chemicals that may amplify these
risks. In the context of a university setting, where students are just beginning to shape their
futures, this hidden health danger is particularly alarming. Universities have a responsibility to
protect students from these risks, and banning vaping on campus is a step in the right direction
to safeguard their future health.
Nicotine addiction and its impact on brain health are also serious issues that must be
considered. Most e-cigarettes contain prominent levels of nicotine, which is one of the most
addictive substances. According to López-Ojeda and Hurley in 2024, “The nicotine and
antinicotinic agents in ECs, including hazardous neurotoxic elements (i.e., aluminum, arsenic,
chromium, cadmium, copper, lead, manganese, nickel, tin, and zinc) and other by-products, pose
serious threats to the brain.” This is especially dangerous for young adults whose brains are
still developing. Regular exposure to nicotine can impair critical brain functions like memory,
attention, and decision-making. For instance, a student who vapes regularly may struggle with
focus during exams or find themselves unable to retain information during lectures. Over time, it
may even cause structural changes in the brain, which can have long- term effects on cognitive
ability. This not only affects academic performance but also reduces the overall quality of life for
students who become addicted. Moreover, the cycle of addiction can lead students to prioritize
vaping over more essential needs, like studying, exercising, or even maintaining relationships.
Allowing vaping on campus increases the risk of students becoming addicted to nicotine and facing
long-term brain damage, which could have devastating consequences for their personal and
professional futures.
In brief, universities need to prioritize the safety and health of their students, staff, and
visitors by banning vaping which is a simple but effective way to create a better learning
environment. Thus, vaping should not be allowed in university compounds because of its many
risks. It harms lung health, increases the risk of cancer, and causes addiction that impacts the brain.
Improves Academic Performance
Next, one of the benefits of prohibiting the use of vapes is a significant increase in
academic performance. In recent years, the controversy surrounding vaping on college campuses
has heated up as academic and health groups express concerns about the effects it may have on
students. The ability to enhance academic performance is one of the strongest arguments against
enforcing a ban on vaping on university property. For institutions looking to create environments
that support academic performance, prohibiting vaping makes sense since it reduces mental
health strains, minimizes distractions in the classroom, and encourages self- discipline and focus.
To start with, vaping has been linked to increased stress and anxiety levels among young
adults, which can negatively affect academic performance. Nicotine, a key ingredient in most vape
products, is highly addictive and can worsen mental health challenges by creating a cycle of
dependency and withdrawal. According to research by the National Institutes of Health (NIH),
nicotine consumption disrupts mood regulation, leading to heightened anxiety and irritability when
access to vaping is restricted mentioned Goriounova & Mansvelder in their 2019 publication. Such mental health strain interferes with students’ ability to concentrate on studies and perform well in exams or projects.
By banning vaping on university grounds, institutions can help reduce these stressors, enabling
students to maintain healthier mental states that support academic achievement.
Other than that, the act of vaping itself, along with the social dynamics it fosters, can be a
significant distraction in academic settings. Students often leave lectures or study sessions to vape,
interrupting their concentration and breaking the flow of academic work. Research shows that
environments permitting vaping normalize its usage, making it more socially acceptable among
students and contributing to frequent breaks and reduced focus mentioned, Rigotti et al., in 2021; Hammond et al. in 2021. This normalization further disrupts the learning environment, as it fosters habits that divert attention from academic priorities. By prohibiting vaping on campuses, universities can
eliminate a significant source of distraction, thereby promoting a more focused and productive
academic atmosphere.
In addition, universities play a crucial role in instilling habits that shape students’ future
success. By banning vaping, institutions send a clear message about the importance of self-
discipline and prioritizing long-term goals over immediate gratification. Nicotine dependency can
undermine self-control, as it creates a compulsion to satisfy cravings at the expense of more
pressing responsibilities, including academic work by Leventhal et al. in 2020. Additionally,
environments that restrict access to addictive substances reinforce positive behavioral patterns,
helping students resist temptations and maintain their focus on academic aims (Johnston et al.,
2022). This collective reinforcement of discipline and focus benefits both individuals and the
broader student body, contributing to an academically driven culture.
In the end, the banning of vaping in university compounds is a step that aligns with the
mission of higher education institutions to promote student well-being and academic excellence.
By addressing the mental health strain caused by nicotine addiction, reducing distractions in
academic environments, and fostering self-discipline and focus, such a policy would create an
atmosphere more conducive to learning and personal growth. Universities must prioritize these
benefits over the convenience of allowing vaping, recognizing their responsibility to cultivate
environments where students can thrive both academically and personally. In short, prohibiting
vapes in university could reduce mental health strains, minimize distractions in class and foster
self- discipline and focus.
Promoting a Better Atmosphere for Others
Lastly, vaping has become one of the popular trends among the younger generation,
including university students. However, the presence of this vaping has brought in problems,
especially in shared communities such as university compounds. Among the most significant
justifications for banning vaping on campus is to help build a better atmosphere for everyone.
Improving air quality, fostering a sense of community, and encouraging positive social interactions
are vital for creating a conducive learning and living environment for students. Therefore, it should
be the duty of every university to make sure that space is safe, inclusive, and healthy for each kind
of community member, which calls for the need to ban vaping in those places.
Vaping leads to enhanced air quality and comfort in university compounds. Vaping releases
aerosolized chemicals, including nicotine and flavorings, which may negatively affect nonsmokers
and persons with respiratory sensitivities. These aerosols linger in the air too often and make the
environments of lecture halls, dorms, and libraries uncomfortable for many people. By banning
vaping, a university can protect students and its staff with clean air and a healthier campus
environment overall. Research has shown that an improvement in air quality leads to better
concentration, productivity, and general well-being-everything that is urgently needed for
academic success-says the World Health Organization (2024). Therefore, banning vaping in favor
of air quality is another expression of the university’s commitment to creating a healthy academic
environment.
Additionally, the ban on vaping increases a sense of community and student responsibility.
When people show restraint from actions that may be detrimental to others, then this contributes
to a more polite and harmonious campus. Vaping, which is a personal choice, becomes a communal
one when its effects impact others. Other health risks associated with exposure to vaping aerosols
include lung irritation and cardiovascular strain. In banning vaping, universities are sending out
messages that they value the wellbeing of their community collectively. This policy can influence
changes in students’ behavior as they become responsible for what they do and how that will affect
others.
Moving on, a ban on vaping promotes great social interactions and peer relations. Vaping
tends to isolate the users from the non-vapers; the result is a divided student population. For
instance, nonsmokers may avoid mingling with people who vape out of distaste for the unpleasant
smell or health concerns over second-hand aerosols. Banning vaping within university compounds
bridges this gap by providing a space that is comfortable for all students. Positive social
interactions are critical in the development of students mentally and in their personal growth amidst
challenges characteristic of academic life, thus considers that universities can create policies that
will help students achieve these vital interactions, leading to greater experiences and closer ties
with others within the university environment.
Therefore, banning vaping in university compounds is critical to develop a better
atmosphere for everyone. Improvement in air quality, community responsibility, and positive
social interaction when brought forth by universities can be built into a safer and healthier
environment for students and staff alike. In fact, such a policy would fall squarely within the
broader mission of universities to support academic excellence, personal development, and
communal well-being. As the evidence has shown, the benefits of a vape-free campus go way
beyond individual preferences and point to the need to prioritize collective health and harmony
in educational institutions.
Overall, vaping should be banned in the university compound because it can reduce health
risk, improve academic performance, and promote a better atmosphere for others. Health is one of
the most important aspects in life and must be continuously preserved to achieve a healthy lifestyle
and if vaping is not contaminated in university compounds, a lot of lives will be in great danger
especially in this context who are a university student mostly. Other than that, academic
performance also holds the same level of importance when in university because one the
requirement the student needs to graduate is by having a good academic performance and those
performance cannot be achieved if their studies were affected by the vape or electronic cigarette.
Moreover, the harmonic atmosphere also plays a significant role in creating a positive community
among university students as they live together throughout their studies. If the community
themselves cannot restrain from vaping, then there is a ridiculously small chance the university
can produce a better atmosphere for others.
In addition, the prohibition on the consumption of vapes in university compounds aligns
with the first objectives of Islamic Law (Maqasid al- Shariah), which is the protection of life. The
use of vapes, particularly among young adults, could cause tons of implications since vaping
introduces harmful chemicals towards the body, thus causing diseases such as respiratory illness,
cardiovascular problems, and addiction. By banning the use of vapes in university, it would fulfill
the objectives of Islamic Law which is preserving life. It is our hope that our findings will inspire
the authorities in higher educational institutions to take preventative measures in overcoming the
problems of students vaping in university compounds.***
