Eventually we will all wake up and realize that smoking is a terrible revenge delivered to us by the Native Americans in return for the theft of their land. That day is coming. Smoking’s realities will far outweigh its attractions, and finally it will be considered about as acceptable as public nose picking.
Tobacco companies dread that day, of course — and they’re not above using deception and exploitation to delay its arrival.
Consider, for example, the fact that cigarette manufacturers have increased the amount of nicotine in cigarrettes by ten percent over the last six years:
Boston Globe: Cigarettes pack more nicotine
From 1998 to 2004, the amount of nicotine that could be inhaled from cigarettes increased an average of 10 percent, the study by the state Department of Public Health found. Nicotine is the chemical that causes cigarettes to be addictive, and the study, released yesterday, found higher levels in all classes of cigarettes, including those branded “light.”
During the past decade, aggressive campaigns across the nation have aimed to curb smoking, the leading cause of preventable deaths. Cities and states, including Massachusetts, have banned smoking in public places, and the price of cigarettes has soared. Still, smoking rates among US adults stubbornly persist above 20 percent.
“We in public health have tried to spend a lot of time figuring out why people don’t stop smoking,” said Lois Keithly , director of the Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program . “It is more difficult to quit when there is a higher amount of nicotine in the cigarette.”
How much more inhumane, destructive chicanery will it take before we wise up and prohibit the manufacture of cigarettes altogether?
August 30, 2006 at 11:13 pm
Smoking is as addictive as cocaine or heroin.
Tobacco is a chronic relapse drug for me. I smoked back in the days when it was not harmful to ones health. I have quit so many times that when I wake up in the morning i question whether or not I am smoking that day….if I am I need to get with it.
I quit drinking 21 years ago and I can honestly say I don’t believe I will ever take another drink of alcohol. In the past 15 years I’ve probably not smoked at least half of that. And there is no way I can say I won’t smoke again. It is pathetic. It is disgusting. It is insane for a cancer survivor to smoke. It is insane for someone who is allergic to tobacco to smoke. It is insane for someone who has not had a cigarette in 2 years to pick them back up again. But I have done it over and over again.
I used to be very hard on myself for my relapses. Today I figure if I don’t smoke 11 out of 14 months I should be grateful, and don’t quit quitting - ever. It has been 7 weeks since I quit this time. One day I’ll make it.
August 31, 2006 at 9:01 pm
So sorry to hear about your struggle, but I’m glad to hear you’re still fighting it. My mom had quite a battle quitting as well. It’s infuriating to think that even as cigarette companies are “educating” people about the dangers of smoking, they’re also acting to keep people addicted by adding more and more nicotine to cigarettes. Doesn’t that make you furious? Words like “brutal” and “heartless” don’t quite describe that kind of attitude. I’m having trouble thinking of a word strong enough.
Good job on continuing the fight. Thanks for sharing your experience, and hang in there!
September 1, 2006 at 8:18 am
I realize smoking is a struggle for a lot of people. Somehow it has made the top priority for something Americans need to quit. Personally there are other things we should be harping on that are more “addictive” than smoking that I think are just as bad if not worse.
Pornography for example.
I am willing to bet my paycheck if you follow the rabbitt trail, JonBenet murderer was into porn. That’s the biggest dirty little secret going.
September 1, 2006 at 10:24 am
I don’t think it’s little or a secret
September 1, 2006 at 10:43 am
Funny you posted this now, I have just quit two weeks ago (for the Nth time). My struggles are similar to Sandra. This time I am using my twins as my motivator. Each previous time I quit I always used a substitute like the patch or gum or nicatrol inhalers. This is the first time I have gone cold turkey, so well see. Addiction is a strange thing, especially for those who don’t have it, it is difficult to understand. One thing about addiction that we as a society need to stop doing is telling people its not their fault. They have a genetic predisposition or their father beat them or their mommy didn’t hug them enough. Its only making the problem worse by eliminating accountability. This is coming from someone that has been addicted to everything at one time or another, and I mean everything. I agree that cigarettes should be outlawed. Even if it turned into a black market item, then at least the big cigarette companies wouldn’t be making the money and the wealth would be distributed more evenly.
Sandra,
Keep it up. You can do it. You beat cancer, don’t invite it back. Remember how you felt when you thought your life might end each time you crave a smoke.
howard,
Do you really think JonBenet would be here if porn were illegal. Porn isn’t even close to causeing the damage of smoking.
September 1, 2006 at 1:20 pm
I don’t think we need to duke it out over which vice is worst — arguments could be made on both sides, rendering such a discussion really just a language exercise. For example: pornography can inflate a sexual appetite to unhealthy, illegal, even destructive levels, and is almost always plays a role in sexual predation. On the other hand, the pornographic industry isn’t deceiving anyone — it delivers precisely what is expected, whereas the tobacco industry deliberately hides and distorts the truth about its practices and the effects of its products in order to trap people into long-term addiction with serious health and financial consequences. Which is worse? Apples and oranges. Both smoking and pornography cause serious damage.
Jim, best wishes to you in quitting. I’m sure it’s not easy, so stay strong — your children will appreciate it. Get angry about the amount of money the tobacco industry wants from you in order to keep addicting yourself with what they’re sneaking into those cigarettes.
September 1, 2006 at 2:53 pm
The money is a whole issue in itself. I recently stopped smoking and started bringing my lunch to work, in an attempt to work less overtime. Between the two I am saving sixty five dollars a week. about 25 of that was for smokes. 5 bucks a pack!
Then move on to the fact that almost half of that money is taxes. Does the government really want us to quit? I think if they weighed out the future medical expenses they would, but who knows. Why are the cigarette companys putting these anti smoking commercials on. some are required by law, but they go beyond that. My guess is that it is really a advertising stradegy. Most people start smoking to be rebellious. So show a 14 year old a commercial about how they shouldn’t smoke and guess what. They are not allowed to advertise on T.V. but they can show as much of these No smoking ads as they want.
September 4, 2006 at 12:14 pm
“I don’t think we need to duke it out over which vice is worst”
I agree with forester
” On the other hand, the pornographic industry isn’t deceiving anyone”
I disagree with you to an extent, but….
“Do you really think JonBenet would be here if porn were illegal.”
I wouldn’t argue that at all. There is simply no way of knowing. This would fall under statistical arguments. Porn goes up, so do the crimes associated with it.
“Porn isn’t even close to causeing the damage of smoking.”
Depends on what symptoms you would be considering as damaging.
Ask a woman who has had a smoker for a husband as opposed to one who’s husband is addicted to porn. But then, would they usually be addicted to more than just porn?
I was only saying that we make huge deals at ridiculing those who smoke, but look away from other destructive (and I still think more so) behaviors.
God Bless
September 4, 2006 at 12:43 pm
And pornography certainly is destructive. It’s crazy that our culture finds it so easy to compartmentalize life, assuming that poor character in one area doesn’t carry over to poor character in other areas. It’s a ridiculous game we play — and an entirely foolish one, because we end up hurting ourselves. Thus we affirm the right of pornographers to operate in our society, and in so doing encourage thousands upon thousands of men to develop inflated sexual appetites that only hurt people, often in the worst way possible.
November 18, 2006 at 9:52 pm
Hello…i really am agenst smoking and i am only 14 and both my parents smoke i tell them things about smoking and they don’t listen…there should be no smoking and i mean everywhere no smoking…and somday someone will say we shouldn’t smoke it effects our health and familys and i want people to say that because poeple shouldn’t be aloud to smoke…and maybe people would notice how many people die from second hand smoke and every ten minutes a non-smoker dies from second hand smoke and who would want to take a life away from smoking and somday they would be taking there life away…people on this world is becoming smarter by letting it be no more smoking in plubic places in ohio and someday i really hope that smoking would be banned ever…and someday kids my age WILL stand up for no smoking….I love earth so i want to save it by not smoking an i know that i WILL NEVER SMOKE and i mean NEVER…and if people want to live forever so quit smokign and my parents say its hard but they still smoke and they wish they nevver even started…and the easyest way to quit and never to start soo if you care if you live to ssee your great grandkids just stop smoking..thats all it takes one voice on wish and other people will maybe stop to think i want to quit..anybody can change but it just takes a little while so start thinking about your life and your health now
November 19, 2006 at 1:18 pm
Thanks for chiming in, Tosha! I love your spirit, especially in this line:
I’m glad you’re so determined never to smoke. My parents smoked too, when I was young, and that helped me to see what a gross habit it was. As you say, it only takes one voice after another to help people realize what a problem smoking is. I’m glad you added your voice here!
April 27, 2008 at 7:37 am
The question is not that how many raise a voice for it or against it. The fact is that smokers believe that smoking is their right. Not to mention the name, I heard one of my class mate react to the Smoking Ban in public places across London, saying, “We smoke for ourselves and we live for ourselves, no one can hinder our right to smoke. It is like enforcing power on us (smokers) and limiting our freedom.”
Production of drugs, cigarettes and other harmful intoxicants are like production of nuclear bomb. But no one will stop producing them. We can debate on such issues for ever and witness the demolition of world one day.
Not that I am being pessimistic but that I feel helpless and trapped. Who am I to blame? Who is to be blamed? It is a long story.
PS: I must mention this is another Tosha… and I really appreciate your thoughts Tosha
. If the youth of today has views like you may be we can change the world.