Wouldn't it be great if there was a class that everybody had to take called something like "Intro to The Dangers of Tobacco in Modern Civilization 101?" But alas, the best that we can do is try to convince educators to consider a little curriculum infusion. By definition, curriculum infusion is simply inserting health related information into already existing college courses while simultaneously meeting the course objectives.

You see, whether they realize it or not, campus faculty have the potential to greatly impact student attitudes and behaviors and the classroom is a great venue to do it. After all, they basically have a captive audience; students are often more focused and attentive in the classroom than out and students are less subject to peer influence and pressure while in the classroom. By involving faculty in prevention programming, curriculum infusion can spread the word campus-wide.

Need some ideas on how tobacco issues can be incorporated in college courses? Check out these creative examples below. Click here for more information on curriculum infusion.

Art: How nicotine relates to creativity and withdrawal.

Biology: Recent research on nicotine and genetics.

Business: Smokers and the costs of productivity to national and small business. The right to hire non-smokers because of health care costs. Ethical implications of the Tobacco Industry.

Economics: The cost to the world community from tobacco use.

Education: Smoking prevention approaches and strategies for youth.

Engineering: Ventilation systems and secondhand smoke.

English: Essays related to tobacco and smoking addiction in families.

Fashion: How cigarettes are marketed as fashion accessories. Women smoking and attractiveness issues.

History: Impact of tobacco on society over time. Famous people who died from tobacco use.

Marketing: Advertising approaches and ethics.

Mass Communications: Tobacco money and its impact on mass media.

Political Science: Recent legislation, the Master Settlement and issues related to policies and society.

Psychology: Addiction and behavioral reinforcements related to nicotine.

Public Speaking: Debate or speeches on any tobacco-related subjects.

Social Work: Tobacco use as a marker of high-risk behavior; the link between tobacco use and mental illness.

Sociology: Misperceptions and norms about tobacco use.

Theater/Film: The ethics of product placement in movies.

Women's Studies: The Tobacco Industry's targeting of women. Thinness, attractiveness issues and smoking.