Free Essay

Smoking

In:

Submitted By smokey64
Words 2761
Pages 12
Smoking in Society

The purpose of this review is to explore smoking's’ place in society. More specifically focusing on the question how people's views on marijuana and tobacco can affect not only society but overall understanding. This study will analyze the social factors for smoking as a whole. When this study is conducted it will be done using, surveys, with open ended questions would be the methods used.
Marijuana, or also known as cannabis, is a psychoactive drug that can be inhaled or eaten. The major psychedelic component in marijuana is known as tetrahydrocannabinol or also known as (THC). There are some states as well as numerous countries that have legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes. These purposes include treating chronic pain conditions, dietary aids, anxiety suppressors, and antiemesis for those who are terminally ill.
Another unfavorable consequence that is caused by maternal cannabis use would be the future prolonged effects on the central nervous system. The user may suffer with cognitive impairment, addictive behaviors, social deficiency, and lack of control of impulsivity. According to Drugs.com, heavy marijuana use can lead to serious social issues. Marijuana affects perception and judgment and is associated with low achievement (Drugs.com). Because of the still lingering viewpoint that marijuana and people who smoke it are viewed as less capable than others and “worse off”. Marijuana can also affect a person’s ability to perform motor skills on daily tasks such as walking, driving, running,etc. Smoking cannabis has long term negative effects one’s academics and memory, especially in adolescents. The effects vary by the age of the person and when they begin to use marijuana, but in terms of my age group 18-25 year olds there is evidence that supports that there is a relationship between declines in academic achievement and health problems among cannabis smokers.
Those with diseases such as MS (multiple sclerosis), AIDS, and some cancers on surveys have said that the use of marijuana have made living their lives easier. It has been productive to lessen their anxieties, increased appetites, helps prevent their nausea, allowed for better sleeping patterns, and etc. However, due to the fact that many of these surveys operate based on self- reports, how can we trust the results of people who have been under the influence of marijuana. The reasonings for many users that smoke marijuana is due to the fact that the side effects of other medications were too harsh on them. Although these users choose to smoke cannabis as an alternative route, many users do not realize the serious adverse smoke-related symptoms. These symptoms included wheezing, coughing, and various other respiratory problems, but yet these users are still continuing to smoke marijuana due to their optimistic bias thinking that “oh that won’t happen to me”. An electronic cigarette (e-cig or e-cigarette),is a battery-powered vaporizer which simulates the taste and feeling of smoking, but without the amount of tobacco a real cigarette has. The latest versions of e-cigarettes contain a battery-powered heating element that vaporizes a liquid containing nicotine. Vape pens have a battery made of lithium-ion, a long lasting battery that helps the user smoke on a regular basis. Vape pens all use the same mechanism, but the devices are optimized to vaporize the active molecules in concentrated marijuana oils, e-liquids, waxes and essential oils and nicotine. Opponents say that despite the small amounts nicotine is still addictive, e-cigarettes could be a "gateway drug," to users who have never smoked nicotine before. But the dangers from smoking aren’t just from what goes on inside but what goes on outside as well. Because of e-cigs and vape pens rise in popularity buying can be a bit expensive. It is for this reason that some users take on the risk of making their own e - liquids and oils made of raw materials: diluted Nicotine, propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin, and artificial flavoring. But despite the fears of those who think e-cigs and vapes will bring a resurgence in the habit and the fact that along with its popularity smoking has become a dying habit. Tobacco control policies have played a big role in slashing smoking rates—which have fallen from 56 percent of American adults in 1965 to 18 percent today (Alice Robb, 2014). The decline of the habit has brought an increase in social stigmas for the small percentage that still partake.
In today’s society people who smoke, are looked at negatively. There is an on-going debate about the notion that marijuana is a gateway drug. While marijuana is commonly referred to in discussions of gateway drugs out of association. While the idea that marijuana is a gateway drug has been a key factor for federal drug control policy in the US. The issue is increasingly being challenged at both the state and international levels. In 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first US states to legalize the sale of marijuana for recreational use. Another example is at the international level, Dutch policy distinguishes between soft drugs (e.g., cannabis) and hard drugs (e.g., cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, etc.); marijuana has been decriminalized and the retail sales of small quantities are tolerated. The gateway argument remains problematic. Not only is the concept vague, but drug use varies per person. Some smoke more than others. Research has shown that individuals tend to initiate drug use with licit substances such as alcohol or tobacco (Donovan & Jessor, 1983) Studies have found that the majority of individuals begin their drug use experiences with alcohol and/or tobacco. Involvement with licit substances typically leads to involvement with marijuana. According to one estimate, for every 100 people who reported having tried marijuana, only 28 ever tried cocaine, with even fewer progressing to more regular cocaine use.
Literature
With the decriminalization of marijuana there are those who wonder: What distinguishes career criminals from non-career criminals (dispensery shop owners) from each other? Their level of commitment. As individuals begin to commit to the deviant norms of a particular subculture they begin to adopt the motivations, attitudes and behavioral patterns found within that social environment.
Marijuanas affect on the medical community has been profound, leading some to abandon their conventional medicines. The claim that marijuana use decreases the use of other drugs was called the “Reverse-Gateway Hypothesis”. Several Michigan medical marijuana certifying physicians, and several lawyers specializing in the new area of medical marijuana law. Dr. Townsend, an activist and medical marijuana certified physician in Michigan claimed the “overwhelming majority” of his patients seek marijuana in order to decrease their prescription use, especially opiates (R. Townsend, M.D.,2011).
While the idea that marijuana is a gateway drug has been influential on federal drug control policy in the US. Furthermore, with the sale of recreational marijuana being decriminalized, many worry about ease of access to the drug. Despite initial uproar small quantities are tolerated in US sales where it is legal.

Methods
Participants
The study I will be conducting is a survey based questionnaire on how both smokers and non smokers perceive smoking in today’s society. The number of participants involved will be 100 undergraduate- student volunteers. With their ages ranging from 18 to 23 years old. The genders of those involved are predominantly straight. Ethnicities were not part of the selection so they are random factors. The races of the participants are black-non hispanic and white-non hispanic individuals. The study will be conducted using a five point scale ranging from “completely disagree to “completely agree” (0 to 4).
Procedures
The participants will each receive a copy of the survey, I will then proceed to explain what the purpose of the survey. The survey is optional. Data will be collected by me and for following up with some participants I will contact them via email. Recruitment will begin with students in attendance for that class. The distribution of the survey will be performed by myself and my partner. The participants will be told that this survey they are completing has to do with people’s (in this case theirs) perception of smokers (i.e. marijuana, tobacco) in today’s society. Consent will be obtained by providing a form adjacent to the survey that requires both a print and non-print signature stating they acknowledge the risks and will answer (to their knowledge) truthfully. To protect the anonymity of those who choose to participate their names and addresses will not be asked. Instead they will be asked to provide their race, gender, and socioeconomic status. Said information will be kept in desk within my home with myself having the only key. The survey should take no more than 10 to 15 minutes.
There will be no incentives or compensation for cooperating with the study. The probability and magnitude of harm or discomfort anticipated in the research will not be greater than any risks encountered in everyday life. My protocol qualifies as minimal risk. There are no risks to any of the participants psychological or social well-being. The study does not pose any risk to their financial life because it costs nothing. There are no legal ramifications nor are there any physical activities involved. To prevent breach of confidentiality the information will be handled by only myself. The student’s information will be kept in a desk within my home. As stated earlier I will have the only key. I will dispose of the information via paper shredder once data collection is complete.
No conflict of Interests are present.

Results

One student volunteer was eliminated from the data due to the fact (without our knowing at the time) was seventeen. All other participants however were of age. After collecting all of said data it was then analyzed using two types of tests: a binomial test and a frequencies test. With the first test the two most commonly used answers are put into two groups with their corresponding key term from all twelve questions. In regards to participation (the first question on the survey) the average score was .81 with the with two most used answers being zero (completely disagree) and four (completely agree) meaning there were more non smokers than smokers involved in taking the survey. This was higher number than what was expected but still very good considering that most of the U.S. population are non smokers. The maximum time allowed was 15 minutes all the applicants finished well before this. Our initial prediction was that the smoking participants would outnumber the non smokers, therefore producing different results. However, like I stated earlier our tests and results produced a different outcome. Despite the results obtained from non smokers most of our sample population did not perceive their smoking counterparts to be unfortunate (SD = .50) only half of them did. Although the score for question two, regarding whether or not they find people who smoke repulsive came to .61 in favor of answer one (somewhat disagree) and the score for question four regarding associations with those who smoke was .81 in favor of answer zero (completely disagree). This tells us the stigma that is associated with people who smoke is still somewhat prominent, however this does not prevent people from affiliating from others who do smoke.
Figure 1. Question | Groups | Category | N | Observ. Prop. | Participate | Group 1 Group 2Total | 4.00 .00 | 114657 | .19.811.00 | Repulsive | Group 1Group 2Total | 1.004.00 | 301949 | .61.391.00 | Unfortunate | Group 1Group 2Total | .001.00 | 393978 | .50.501.00 | Associate | Group 1Group 2Total | .004.00 | 37744 | .84.161.00 | Communicate | Group 1Group2Total | 1.00.00 | 224870 | .31.691.00 | Stress | Group 1Group 2Total | 3.00.00 | 124961 | .20.801.00 | Gateway | Group 1Group 2Total | .003.00 | 222244 | .50.501.00 | eCig | Group 1Group 2Total | 2.001.00 | 242549 | .49.511.00 | Choice | Group 1Group 2Toatl | 4.001.00 | 351146 | .76.241.00 | Criminalize | Group 1 Group 2Total | 1.004.00 | 282149 | .57.431.00 | Decrim | Group 1Group 2Total | 2.001.00 | 192140 | .48.531.00 | Tobacco | Group 1 Group 2Total | 2.004.00 | 321345 | .71.291.00 |

Figure 2.

Participate | Value | Frequency | Percent | Valid | Cummal | | 4.003.002.001.00 .00 | 1112141746 | 11.0012.0014.0017.0046.00 | 11.0012.0014.0017.0046.00 | 11.00 23.00 37.00 54.00100.00 | | Total | 100 | 100.0 | 100.0 | |

Repulsive | Value | Frequency | Percent | Valid | Cummal | | .002.004.003.001.00 | 1218192130 | 12.0018.0019.0021.0030.00 | 12.0018.0019.0021.0030.00 | 12.00 30.00 49.00 70.00100.00 | | Total | 100 | 100.0 | 100.0 | |

Unfortunate | Value | Frequency | Percent | Valid | Cummal | | 4.003.002.00 .001.00 | 48103939 | 4.00 8.0010.0039.0039.00 | 4.00 8.0010.0039.0039.00 | 4.00 12.00 22.00 61.00100.00 | | Total | 100 | 100.0 | 100.0 | |

Associate | Value | Frequency | Percent | Valid | Cummal | | 4.002.003.001.00 .00 | 711133237 | 7.0011.0013.0032.0037.00 | 7.0011.0013.0032.0037.00 | 7.00 18.00 31.00 63.00100.00 | | Total | 100 | 100.0 | 100.0 | |

Communi. | Value | Frequency | Percent | Valid | Cummal | | 4.002.003.001.00 .00 | 89132248 | 8.00 9.0013.0022.0048.00 | 8.00 9.0013.0022.0048.00 | 8.00 17.00 30.00 52.00100.00 | | Total | 100 | 100.0 | 100.0 | |

Stress | Value | Frequency | Percent | Valid | Cummal | | 4.003.002.001.00 .00 | 912131749 | 9.0012.0013.0017.0049.00 | 9.0012.0013.0017.0049.00 | 9.00 21.00 34.00 51.00100.00 | | Total | 100 | 100.0 | 100.0 | |

Gateway | Value | Frequency | Percent | Valid | Cummal. | | 4.002.00 .003.001.00 | 914222233 | 9.0014.0022.0022.0033.00 | 9.0014.0022.0022.0033.00 | 9.00 23.00 45.00 67.00100.00 | | Total | 100 | 100.0 | 100.0 | |

eCig | Value | Frequency | Percent | Valid | Cummal. | | 4.003.002.001.00 .00 | 710242534 | 7.0010.0024.0025.0034.00 | 7.0010.0024.0025.0034.00 | 7.00 17.00 41.00 66.00100.00 | | Total | 100 | 100.0 | 100.0 | |

Choice | Value | Frequency | Percent | Valid | Cummal. | | 9.001.003.00 .002.004.00 | 11111182335 | 111.0012.0018.0023.0035.00 | 111.0012.0018.0023.0035.00 | 1.0012.00 | | Total | 100 | 100.0 | 100.0 | |

Criminalize | Value | Frequency | Percent | Valid | Cummal. | | 3.002.00 .004.001.00 | 1617182128 | 16.0017.0018.0021.0028.00 | 16.0017.0018.0021.0028.00 | 16.00 33.00 51.00 72.00100.00 | | Total | 100 | 100.0 | 100.0 | |

Decrim | Value | Frequency | Percent | Valid | Cummal. | | 3.002.004.001.00 .00 | 1719202123 | 17.0019.0020.0021.0023.00 | 17.0019.0020.0021.0023.00 | 17.0036.0056.0077.00100.00 | | Total | 100 | 100.0 | 100.0 | |

Tobacco | Value | Frequency | Percent | Valid | Cummal. | | 3.004.00 .001.002.00 | 1313162632 | 13.0013.0016.0026.0032.00 | 13.0013.0016.0026.0032.00 | 13.0026.0042.0068.00100.0 | | Total | 100 | 100.0 | 100.0 | |

As this studies shows people who smoke (at least at our school) are still looked upon negatively. With the negatives aside however what the data truly shows is that the act of smoking is the problem and not the people. We suspect this view comes from years of negative advertising and also the location which these studies were conducted. Each subject is a college educated person, meaning that they are more informed about the hazards of smoking than an uneducated population would be on this subject.

\

References
Donovan, J. E., & Jessor, R. (1983). Problem drinking and the dimension of involvement with drugs: a Guttman scalogram analysis of adolescent drug use. Am J Public Health American Journal Of Public Health, 73(5), 543–552. http:// doi.org/10.2105/ajph.73.5.543
Maggard, S. R., & Boylstein, C. (2014). Changing Masks: Identity Maintenance and the Role of Marijuana among a Small Circle of Marijuana Growers. Deviant Behavior, 35(8), 593–610. http://doi.org/10.1080/01639625.2013.863101 Presentation of Findings. (1999). Prescriptions Of Narcotics for Heroin Addicts Medical Prescription of Narcotics, 19–96. http://doi.org/10.1159/000062974
Shukla, R. K., & Kelley, M. S. (2007). Investigating How Decisions to Use Marijuana Change Over Time. Subst Use Misuse Substance Use &Amp; Misuse, 42(9), 1401–1425. http://doi.org/10.1080/10826080701212485 Wu, T.-C., Tashkin, D. P., Djahed, B., & Rose, J. E. (1988). Pulmonary Hazards of Smoking Marijuana as Compared with Tobacco. New England Journal Of Medicine N Engl J Med, 318(6), 347–351. http://doi.org/10.1056/nejm198802113180603

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Smoking

...Smoking has been very popular throughout the years all over the world. It’s quite common to see people smoke cigarettes on the street and other nonpublic areas. Smoking has been seen in the movies, TV shows and so forth, from which we could see how commonly it is applied in human behavior and life habit. I wouldn’t be surprised if my dad or uncle smokes, and from what I’ve noticed, the population of women that smoke increases nowadays. So here comes the question, why do people smoke cigarettes? Don’t they know the consequences? What are the good reasons people choose to smoke or what are the disadvantages? Smoking as we have heard of, is judged as an unhealthy behavior that could lead to a lot of diseases and impairment of the health. There are a lot of associations and offices that actually help people quit cigarettes because they are bad for our health. It would harm our lungs, heart and immune system by using cigarettes too frequently. Smoking cigarettes could cause cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, aging, lung, heart, stomach, kidney, nose, bladder, mouth and so forth of the diseases that could be deadly and dangerous. As we learned before, tobacco is the largest cause of preventable death now and for the past in world. Even second-hand smoke could be detrimental. For the health part, smoke is definitely the most dangerous. Due to the nicotine and carbon monoxide it has in it that could actually kill a person if using too much of the amount accumulatively. Smoking usually...

Words: 2360 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Smoking

...Smoking is one of the habits that people don’t want to give up because of its addicted elements. A normal cigarette contains over 1000’s of chemicals which includes Tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide e.t.c. There are also other toxic elements in a cigarette which harms the people around a smoker. Different governments try to introduce new schemes every second year which sometimes affect a smoker in a positive and sometimes in a negative way. For example; putting a higher tax on cigarettes or introducing electric cigarettes. Some countries have also banned smoking inside buildings such as offices, shops, schools, bars and restaurants. In my opinion, this is a very good method to reduce the amount of smokers. Smoking ban will help many people to stop or cut down the amount of cigarettes they used to smoke. It will possibly help people stop smoking at work and will trim down the rate of smoking each year. It will also prevent young people from smoking in schools, at restaurants and perhaps will stop them from becoming a regular smoker. It will also keep the air clean and will not harm the non smokers and it also might stop people from buying cigarettes from corner shops which will affect their income and hopefully the shop owner will stop buying cigarettes from different companies. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it will immediately stop people from smoking. There’s also a possibility that bans on smoking in public places may lead to more smoking at home. This will also mean...

Words: 280 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Smoking

...Smoking isn't good for someone's body. Especially, if that person has been smoking a pack of cigarette a day, and for a long period of time; but what are the physical effects of smoking on your body? The effects of smoking varies, and it will depend on a person's vulnerability to the chemical(be specific about these chemicals) in the cigarette or tobacco. It will also depend on the number of cigarette sticks a person smokes per day, the age when the person first started to smoke, and the number of years that the person has been smoking for. According to recent studies, every year hundreds of thousands of people around the globe die from medical complications caused by smoking. Aside from the stench it leaves on someone's clothes, breath, and hair,(I think this is a not a good argument) it also has other complications. Here are some of the different effects of smoking, it: * Raises a person's blood pressure and heart rate. * Decreases a person's blood flow to body extremities-like the fingers and toes. * It stimulates the brain and the nervous system for a short time and then reduce the stimulation. * Causes dizziness, nausea, watery eyes, and hyper acidity. * Weakens the sense of taste and smell. * Causes the loss of appetite. Other effects: * Shortness of breath. * Chronic coughing. * Reduced overall fitness(be specific). * Yellowish stain on the smoker's fingers and teeth. * Smokers experience more coughs and colds as compared to non-smokers...

Words: 569 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Smoking

...Neh-Bih Sangbong Professor Kronstadt English 102 4 April 2015 Ban On Smoking in Public Places Ban On Smoking In Public Places Smoking has been a very controversial topic in recent years. A lot of people smoke everywhere, including in public places. Smoking in public places is frowned upon because of the increasing health risks that come with inhaling the smoke. It is argued that smoking is bad for the health and it can affect a person who inhales and exhales the cigarette, as well as affect other people who are around a smoker in public places. Smoking is so unhealthy, that it can lead to life threatening diseases which can also lead to death. Because of these life threatening risks, smoking should be banned in public places. However, there are some people who believe otherwise, that smoking should not be banned in public places, and that it should be allowed in any public place that does not prohibit smoking. There are many pros and cons on why banning smoking in public places is an issue. Proponents on banning smoking in public places, view the pros on why smoking should be banned, while opponents on banning smoking in public places, view the cons on banning smoking in public places. The most common, accurate, factual and claimed pro for proponents on why smoking should be banned in public places is that, it is scientifically and medically proven that smoking in public places not only affects the person who smokes, but the people around that person will also be affected...

Words: 364 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Smoking

...Smoking Advertisements and Commercials For this assignment, I will be writing about anti-smoking advertisements and commercials that I see a lot on television while I am trying to watch the Big Bang Theory and sometimes banners on an Internet page. Lately, I have been noticing a lot of anti-smoking commercials from the CDC interviewing people whom have been smoking for a long time. People, whom are being interviewed, have serious health problems due to the effects of smoking. These ads will explain how the ex-smokers live their life’s differently because of the damage from smoking. Terrie Hall was the most well known person in these CDC commercials. Terrie started smoking when she was in high school, and now she is facing the consequences for doing it for so long. Terrie was working with the CDC to show not only to teens but also to adults what smoking did to her. Terrie’s condition with cancer was getting worst and she requested the CDC to interview her while on her deathbed to show that smoking took her life away. Terrie Hall died in September of last year. It has been said that the last commercial of Terrie made a big impact to society because the emotion appeal it delivered to the audience. The emotional appeal was evoking negative emotions like fear, guilt, sadness, and anger towards smoking. The audience might develop the fear of smoking, knowing what kind of damage it can do to someone’s body. Audiences might build up the emotion guilt for the current smokers. Audience...

Words: 553 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Smoking

...Cigarette Smoking Be Banned In All Public Places Angie Leventis Lourgos and Jackie Bange discuss smoking being banned in bars in their article “Illinois smoking ban: Some bars give smokers a sanctuary.” Lourgos states that given the recent ban on cigarette smoking in bars that some of the bars are still letting the patrons smoke. The ban for smoking in bars and restaurants in Illinois has been in place since January 1, 2008. Lourgos and Bange went and talked to one bar owner Pat Carroll of the Crowbar Inc. Since the ban has taken place some bar owners like Carroll have ignored the law and continue to let the patrons smoke in their establishment for a small fee. The fee is not mandatory, but the patrons are willing to spend a little extra to light up. There is a jar called “the smoking fund,” that sits on the bar where smokers can donate money for fines the establishment ends up having to pay for letting them continue to smoke. “The public can lodge complaints against establishments that skirt the law triggering a site inspection. Violators face fines that can grow steeper with each infraction, starting at $250 for a business and $100 for an individual smoker” (Leventis Lourgas and Bange). The Crowbar has already received two fines totally $680.00. The main reason the Crowbar continues to let the patrons smoke inside is that he is afraid that they will end up going to other bars. Indiana which is only a few miles away from him does not have the smoking ban. One patron...

Words: 345 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Smoking

...psychological habit. The nicotine from cigarettes provides a temporary, and addictive, high. Eliminating that regular fix of nicotine will cause your body to experience physical withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Because of nicotine’s “feel good” effect on the brain, you may also have become accustomed to smoking as a way of coping with stress, depression, anxiety, or even boredom. At the same time, the act of smoking is ingrained as a daily ritual. It may be an automatic response for you to smoke a cigarette with your morning coffee, while taking a break from work or school, or during your commute home at the end of a long day. Perhaps friends, family members, and colleagues smoke, and it has become part of the way you relate with them. To successfully quit smoking, you’ll need to address both the addiction and the habits and routines that go along with it. Your Personal Stop Smoking Plan While some smokers successfully quit by going cold turkey, most people do better with a plan to keep themselves on track. A good plan addresses both the short–term challenge of quitting smoking and the long–term challenge of preventing relapse. It should also be tailored to your specific needs and smoking habits. Questions to ask yourself Take the time to think of what kind of smoker you are, which moments of your life call for a cigarette, and why. This will help you to identify which tips, techniques or therapies may be most beneficial for you. Do you feel the need to smoke at every...

Words: 366 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Smoking

...Problem-Solution Speech General Purpose: To Persuade and provide a solution Specific Purpose: To help my audience understand the amount of litter that is produced by cigarettes Thesis: Cigarette pollution is the worlds largest litter and it must be addressed. Introduction: 1. A man strolls casually down the street, looks around and takes one last puff from his Marlboro then he casually throws it in the direction of the nearest street drain. This is a situation we have all seen and maybe even performed. At best the cigarette lays there on the ground and a street sweeper may pick it up. However the more likely thing to happen is that he makes his shot in the drain or it soon rains and the water takes the cigarette but down the drain with it, it will follow the same path millions take every year. It flows underground and will eventually make it to out waterways. According to (www.cigarettelitter.org/) Globally, approximately 4.3 trillion cigarette butts are littered every year. Smokers in the USA account for over 250 billion cigarette butts, in the UK 200 tonnes of butts are discarded, and Australian smokers litter over 7 billion cigarette butts annually. In most Western countries cigarette butt litter accounts for around 50% of all litter. Cigarette butt litter is a major problem at our beaches, in the ocean and throughout the watersheds which carry water, trash and debris to our beaches. Cigarette butts discarded...

Words: 839 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Smoking

...Smoking? I do not understand why people can put something that is so damaging into their bodies. Do people even think about what it can do to themselves and their surroundings, and how many chemicals there are in a cigarette? Smoking is a really bad habit and has become very common and fashionable among teenagers and young boys and girls. Smoking usually begins at school when students discover new things and its not only smoking, sometimes it is drugs too. Even though doctors warn against smoking, people continue to smoke. Some teenager’s smoke to be a part of society and some teenagers say that smoking makes them look and feel cool. It is something we as a society need to work on and try to prevent by teaching citizens about the consequences of smoking in an early age. The way teenagers typically start smoking is by taking a few puffs from their friends and those innocent puffs can lead to a smoking addiction. Many young teenagers start smoking because they look up to someone who smokes, such as a movie star or soccer player or a cool friend. The smoking begins to affect the health and it can lead to lung cancer and other diseases. What can we as a society do about this problem and how can we prevent more smokers? In Denmark it is really easy for minors to buy a pack of cigarettes. I do not think smoking should be allowed in public places because it affects those who want to have a healthy lifestyle. However, is that a choice I can make or it is a thing the government...

Words: 561 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Smoking

...NAIROBI D.H.O. KWAMANGA, J.A. ODHIAMBO and E.I. AMUKOYE ABSTRACT Objectives: To determine the prevalence of smoking and investigate factors that may influence smoking behaviour in secondary school students in Nairobi. Design: Cross-sectional survey in which a self-administered questionnaire was issued to the students. Setting: Sampled public and private secondary schools in Nairobi. Participants: All the students in the selected secondary schools were included in the study. Results: Five thousand, three hundred and eleven(74. 1%) secondary school students were covered. There were 3658 boys and 1653 girls in the study. The mean age was 16.7 years SD ± 1.48. The study covered 3065(77.3%) and 2246 (70. 1%) of the public and private school students respectively. A total of 1709 (32.2%) were ever-smokers. The overall rate of eversmoking by gender among the students was 38.6% of males and 17.9% of the females. Experimentation with smoking started at five years and regular smoking at 10 years but majority of students (72.2%) started at between age 12 and 16 years. Parents’ and teachers’ smoking habits influenced initiation of smoking by young children while peer pressure, advertising and type of school influenced older children to smoking. About 67% of the eversmokers stopped the habit giving various reasons. There was a strong relationship between age of smoking initiation and stoppage. Majority of the students smoked either to enhance their personalities or for stimulation...

Words: 1687 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Smoking

...Introduction (Smoking and Infertility) What is the relation between smoking and infertility? Cigarette smoking has been a common societal activity for decades. Cigarette smoking is known to cause chronic and sometimes deadly health issues, but the effects of Cigarette smoking on fertility are not well understood. My research will focus on the impacts cigarette smoking can have on human fertility. I will remain impartial with regards to gender comparison and smoking. Scholars and researchers agree that smoking does appear to have some impact on human fertility. However, there are no published statistics description recent estimates for the population of smokers who suffer from infertility. Nor are there theories exploring which gender smoking most effects with respect to infertility. I aim to develop research and statistics that would represent viability of reproduction in relation to the amount and time of cigarette smoking. The majority of smokers or those that are in contact with cigarette smoke are successfully reproducing with no express decrease in fertility. This can be due to several different factors, age, duration of smoking, and number of cigarettes smoked during a day. The aim of this research is not to prove that cigarette smoking will lead to human futility. However, I believe there is a link between infertility and cigarette smoking that can have a detrimental effect on a part of society. This study will utilize patient information and medicinal distribution...

Words: 321 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Smoking

...Smoking I don’t agree on smoking. Because it's harmful to health, also causes addiction and dependence on nicotine. Smoking leads to lung cancer, heart disease, strokes, asthma and wide variety of other diseases. Smokers experience more coughs and colds as compared to non-smokers. One of the main reasons for quitting smoking is its detrimental effect on our teeth. Smoking causes the destruction of tooth enamel, bad breath and disturbed of oral microflora. Also you have an increased risk of lung cancer and heart disease if you are exposed to other people smoking for long periods of time. Tobacco smoke is also an irritant and can make asthma and other conditions worse. Moreover, nicotine addiction is so strong that women continue to smoke even during pregnancy. Pregnant women who smoke cigarettes run an increased risk of miscarriage, stillborn or premature infants, or infants with low birth weight. Maternal smoking may also be associated with learning and behavioral problems in children. Smoking more than one pack of cigarettes per day during pregnancy nearly doubles the risk that the affected child will become addicted to tobacco if that child starts smoking. One reason for quitting smoking is that a person buys for their money these diseases, which are caused by smoking. Realizing this man quits smoking. After all, this money can be spent on more useful things or going to the movies. Ten years ago, there was a fashion for teenagers on smoking. But this fashion has disappeared...

Words: 368 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Smoking

...CIGARS AND CIGAR-SMOKING HARMS Despite increases in cigar smoking, especially among youth, cigars are often overlooked by legislators and other policymakers who mistakenly believe that cigars are “not that harmful” compared to cigarettes and deserve special treatment. But cigars are addictive and deadly – causing lung cancer, other cancers, heart attacks and more – and they are often marketed in a wide variety of kid-friendly flavors. Cigar smokers also produce more secondhand smoke than cigarette smokers, and secondhand cigar smoke is often even more harmful and deadly than secondhand cigarette smoke. Health Harms to Users from Cigar Smoking Like cigarettes, cigars are smoked and contain the same toxic and carcinogenic compounds. 1 While many believe that cigars are safer than cigarettes because cigar smoke is not inhaled, studies have shown that cigar smokers actually do inhale – even when smoking large premium cigars – thereby absorbing smoke into their lungs and bloodstream, and depositing cigarette smoke particles in their lungs and even in their stomachs and digestive tract. Because large cigars do not have filters, smokers are exposed to more tobacco smoke and, especially, more toxins in the smoke. 2 Moreover, many youth and other smokers are now consuming cigars, especially smaller ones, just like cigarettes, with full inhalation. Accordingly, smoking cigars causes the same kinds of serious health consequences and premature death as cigarette smoking. For example: >...

Words: 1266 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Smoking

...children start smoking, 1 in 4 who turn into regular smokers by the age of 15. Would you want your child to become addicted to smoking? Cigarettes smoke contains over 4,800 chemicals and 69 are known to cause cancer. So why do people smoke? Why is smoking so harmful? 1. Nicotine: is a highly addictive drug which stimulates the nervous system. It also for a certain amount of time improves alertness, memory and much more. 2. Tar: is a Sticky substance contains many toxic chemicals and causes cancer. 3. Carbon monoxide: is a Poisonous gas which reduces amount of oxygen blood can carry. Sometimes leaving you breathless. Fact 30% of all cancer deaths are because of smoking. 2. If these don't work call 0800 169 01969 for help and advice. * Fact smokers have 2-3 times more of a chance of having a heart attack then non-smokers. * And 8 times more likely to die from lung cancer. Would you want to die before you were 20? In 1994 over 1154 million cigarettes were smoked by 11 to 15 year olds. Which cost around 135 million pounds and provided the government with 108 million pounds in tax revenue? That is more than 30 times than the amount the government spent to reduce the number of children smoking. * Fact in 1997 the Government earned 10 thousand 305 million pounds from tax revenue. So what did the government to with that money? But terminal illnesses from constant smoking weighs out this benefit as you still can get cancer from smoking. Look at how much smoking would cost you!...

Words: 396 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Smoking

...The Effects of Cigarette Smoking No Smoking SignThere have been numerous campaigns against cigarette smoking communicating that this vice causes death. But a threat to health doesn’t seem to be a good reason for quitting anymore. People somehow block themselves and ignore all the information that is given to them. The purpose of this essay is to discuss three effects of cigarette smoking, besides the broadly mentioned possibility of developing cancer or dying, which are the smell of smoke, the stained teeth, and the cost of doing it. The first effect of cigarette smoking, and probably the one that the non-smokers hate the most, is that it permeates everything around it. Smokers usually have smelly hair, breath, clothes, and, if they smoke indoors, a smelly room. The stench of cigarette smoke is very penetrating and hard to remove. Even if the person quits smoking the odor remains for a long time. The second effect of cigarette smoking is one that most people don’t even take into consideration. It stains the teeth yellow or sometimes even brown. Since this effect is long term, most people are not aware of it when they begin smoking. The truth is that a cigarette stain is very hard to eliminate from the teeth, and it will probably end up costing a considerable amount of money. Yellow teeth are disgusting because they give an unhygienic image and make people look older. The third effect of smoking is that it will eventually end up affecting the smoker’s personal economy...

Words: 358 - Pages: 2