Marijuana abuse, stress management, and breast cancer are some of the topics the Associate Degree Nursing program is going to inform people about during their health fair in November.

The fair is a project for fourth semester students in the Community Health Class, and it is directed primarily to students, but anyone interested is welcome.

“We’ve been studying this stuff for two years now, so we have a lot that we can tell people and I hope that we get that opportunity,” said Kathryn Lantzy, student and health fair coordinator.

Discussion topics will include smoking, marijuana abuse, stress management, skin cancer, testicular and breast cancer, diabetes, sexually transmitted diseases, dental/medical insurance and women’s heart health.

Lantzy said when it comes to the marijuana and its consumption, they want to focus on the health effects and not the political issue.

“Of course we want to promote no smoking in general, but we’re just going to stick with the facts,” Lantzy said.

Stands at the fair will provide pamphlets and informative models, and organizers also encourage food-and-clothes donations which will be passed on to local charities for distribution.

The highly sought after nursing program had a huge number of applicants this year, said Sheri Shields, program director.

In order to be eligible, students have to finish all their prerequisites and then go through a wait list. The process can take several years.

“It’s a slow process,” said Lantzy, who waited for about two years to get into the program.

The School of Nursing sponsors the project, but the students are trying to make everything by themselves, said Stephanie Durfor, associate professor and instructor of the Community Health Class.

Students in the class had the option of participating in either the health fair or four days of outside clinical experience. Twenty of 30 students choose to do the fair.

One who chose not to participate in the fair is Albert Shin. Instead he has been volunteering for Doctors Without Walls and helping homeless people in Santa Barbara.

“I thought it was going to be better for myself to get out in the community and get experience,” Shin said. “I’m looking forward to go back to [Doctors Without Walls] when I have time.”

The fair is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday Nov. 18 on the Campus Center Patio.