Smoking
Smoking
Smoking is
a big social issue in many countries nowadays widely discussed in newspapers,
radio and TV-shows.
The
practice of smoking tobacco originated among Native Americans in eastern North America,
where tobacco is native. It was adopted by many Europeans following the colonization of the Americas.
According
to the World Health Organization, it is most common in east Asia, where
as many as two-thirds of all adult males smoke tobacco. Because
of concern over the health effects of tobacco smoking, the
practice has rapidly declined in recent years in the United States, Canada and western Europe.
However, statistics show that at least a quarter of people even in these
regions continue to smoke, and there is no indication smoking will go away
completely.
Tobacco
may be smoked in several forms, the most common being the cigarette, the cigar, and the pipe. Cigarette
smoking is the most common. Pipes and cigars are less common, and some
stereotype these as exclusively for men. The hookah or water pipe is used in
the Middle East.
In the
case of cigarette smoking, smoke
is inhaled into the lungs. Tobacco smoke contains the nicotine, which forms
a strong physical and psychological addiction. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, claim
that nicotine is a “very addictive drug” that can be “as
addictive as heroin or cocaine”.
Medical
research has found that smoking is a major contributing factor towards many
human health problems,
especially lung
cancer, heart attack, and other disorders. Research also
showed that smoking is an important cause of premature death worldwide.
Passive
smoking (also known as environmental tobacco smoke,
involuntary smoking or secondhand smoke) occurs when the exhaled
smoke from one person's cigarette
is inhaled by other people. Involuntary smoking involves inhaling toxic
components. Numerous studies have suggested that passive smoking can be harmful
to human health. Passive smoking is one of the key issues in leading to smoking bans,
particularly in workplaces.
Smoking is
not supported by many people in the world, for the most part by the
non-smokers.
Most arguments
against smoking are grounded on public health concerns.
In many
countries, including the United
States, New
Zealand, Canada, South Africa and Australia, it is illegal
to sell tobacco products to minors.
Several
Western countries have also put restrictions on cigarette advertising.
In the United
States, all television advertising of tobacco products
has been prohibited since 1971.
In Australia, the Tobacco
Advertising Prohibition Act 1992 prohibits tobacco advertising in any
form, with a very small number of exceptions.
In
addition, in many countries some jurisdictions impose restrictions on where
smoking is allowed. Several European countries such as the Republic
of Ireland, Norway,
Sweden, Italy, Spain and Scotland have
legislated against smoking in public places, often including bars and
restaurants. Similar bans will also take effect in the rest of the UK at
various intervals.
In the
United States, many states prohibit smoking in restaurants, and some
also prohibit smoking in bars.
Still,
many people continue smoking. People start smoking for different reasons. Some
say they smoke in order to relax, rest and distract from their daily stress. I
think that most of the minors smoke in order to be like everybody else, to be
cool and become a grown up.
However,
successful ex-smokers are often quite happy and relieved, as well as proud of
their success.
Personally,
I don’t smoke and never smoked since I tried my father’s unfinished cigarette
at the age of seven. I am very tolerant towards smokers as long as they don’t
smoke in my presence and it’s of no harm to me. Of course it’s very harmful for
them, but it’s their own life and their own choice.