SMOKERS....I simply don't understand your habit.

May_It_Be · November 15, 2007

Thats comeplete BS, for every ONE article you can find saying 2nd hand isnt harmful I will find TEN.

I will spare the forum the flooding of links I have to completely dismiss that article you posted, sorry.

-DG724

As I shall refrain from posting my links.

LOL. Not only judgmental are we, darling, but militantly intolerant, elitist, and egotistically convinced that YOUR way is the RIGHT way, and the rest of the world should submit to your superior conviction, for our own widdle good. We're just too stupid and incapable of living our own widdle lives, aren't we? We NEED your enlightened guidance, or else we'd simply vanish from the face of the earth, due to our own imbecility.

I thought we fought wars in this country to liberate ourselves from such tyranny? Oh, silly, peasant me.

JadedStar · November 15, 2007

I could never date a smoker for these reasons, and I'm lucky enough that where I am right now I won't have to deal with forever, but I have dealt with it my whole life and this person should have quit a long time ago

Here's the difference..you have every right NOT to date a smoker. You have every right to avoid smokers. You have every right to not have smoke in your house if you OWN or are the leaseholder. You don't, however, have the right to decide who can smoke. That is treading on ground that is treacherous.

It's not your decision what they are doing to their body. It is only your decision to choose to be around him or her or not. That is the limit of your power in this issue.

Aurian · November 15, 2007

It is very hard to break a habit, especially one with chemical addictives in it.

Some people have to try numerous times before finally breaking it. Others decide they would rather risk problems than give up their source of comfort and routine.

But what gets me is...

Why do people START? Its expensive. Its smelly. Its dangerous. Its a turn-off for many. Its addictive. Its isolating (just look at the smokers huddled outside in the rain). If you need a pick-me-up and a routine, aren`t there better ways to do it? Hell, even thumbsucking would do nicely.

When it was more acceptable (ie, my parents`generation) it wasn`t a big deal because they were cheaper, and nobody knew about the dangers of smoking back then, I understand why someone would start.

But now? Don`t we know better?

DragonGirl724 · November 15, 2007

Additionally, I want to extend my kudos and express my agreement with many of the posters here, in that you CAN NOT force someone to stop doing something that is harmful to them. That eliminates free will, a basic human right. There has to be a heart change, or a strong desire to make a lifestyle change.

Banning cigarettes would be akin to Prohibition in the USA ... it would all go underground, and make the problem much, much worse.

Speaking of free will...many say on here that cigerettes control the smoker. so um, whats more powerful FREE WILL or NICOTINE???

I agree that if cigerettes became illegal overnight, it would cause a lot of problems, but many steps should be taken in the nicotine industry to make it "healther" habit...

"Besides nicotine, cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 substances, many of which may cause cancer or damage the lungs. Cigarette smoking is associated with coronary heart disease, stroke, ulcers, and an increased incidence of respiratory infections. Smoking is the major cause of lung cancer and is also associated with cancers of the larynx, esophagus, bladder, kidney, pancreas, stomach, and uterine cervix. Smoking is also the major cause of chronic bronchitis and emphysema." -

http://www.nida.nih.gov

By all means weed should be legal, at least it's NATURAL and has health BENEFITS!! But we wont go there, dont get me started on "The BS war on drugs" EYES:

-DG724

DragonGirl724 · November 15, 2007

I could never date a smoker for these reasons, and I'm lucky enough that where I am right now I won't have to deal with forever, but I have dealt with it my whole life and this person should have quit a long time ago

Here's the difference..you have every right NOT to date a smoker. You have every right to avoid smokers. You have every right to not have smoke in your house if you OWN or are the leaseholder. You don't, however, have the right to decide who can smoke. That is treading on ground that is treacherous.

It's not your decision what they are doing to their body. It is only your decision to choose to be around him or her or not. That is the limit of your power in this issue.

without getting too detailed, just understand that I HAVE NO CHOICE but to be around this person, ok. and even if I wasn't around it everyday it would still negetively effect the relationship I have with this person.

-DG724

bulletproof · November 15, 2007

Your posts make it seem like it's less about concern for a loved one and more about concern for yourself and how this person's bad habit affects you. The original question seemed to be a quest for understanding why smokers don't quit. People who smoke (and some who don't) have offered you some reasons. Arguing about them or arguing with this person in your life who is smoking is futile. If you are living somewhere with a smoker, move out. That's pretty easy. Also, an unfortunate fact is that what you breathe in outside during a jog on a regular basis can be just as toxic over time, depending on where you live. So I don't know that second-hand smoke is where you should be targeting your energies if your main concern is your own health.

DragonGirl724 · November 15, 2007

This poster is correct. There Is NO evidence that secondhand smoke causes adverse health risks.

I am a nonsmoker, I despise smoking and I support the nonsmoking laws because I find it distasteful and even disgusting, however, the laws are based on flawed studies.

Any article that purports to show that secondhand smoke is harmful are basing their information on unsubstantiated facts.

STOP WITH THIS UNEDUCATED PROPAGANDA!

link removed

Secondhand smoke is classified as a "known human carcinogen" (cancer-causing agent) by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the US National Toxicology Program, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a branch of the World Health Organization.

Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemical compounds. More than 60 of these are known or suspected to cause cancer.

Secondhand smoke can be harmful in many ways. In the United States alone, each year it is responsible for:

an estimated 35,000 deaths from heart disease in non-smokers who live with smokers
about 3,400 lung cancer deaths in non-smoking adults
other breathing problems in non-smokers, including coughing, mucus, chest discomfort, and reduced lung function
150,000 to 300,000 lung infections (such as pneumonia and bronchitis) in children younger than 18 months of age, which result in 7,500 to 15,000 hospitalizations
increases in the number and severity of asthma attacks in about 200,000 to 1 million children who have asthma
more than 750,000 middle ear infections in children

Pregnant women exposed to secondhand smoke are also at increased risk of having low birth weight babies.

An issue that continues to be studied is whether secondhand smoke may increase the risk of breast cancer. Both mainstream and secondhand smoke contain about 20 chemicals that, in high concentrations, cause breast cancer in rodents. Chemicals in tobacco smoke reach breast tissue and are found in breast milk.

The evidence regarding secondhand smoke and breast cancer risk in human studies is still being debated, partly because the risk has not been shown to be increased in active smokers. One possible explanation for this is that tobacco smoke may have different effects on breast cancer risk in smokers and in those who are exposed to secondhand smoke.

A report from the California Environmental Protection Agency in 2005 concluded that the evidence regarding secondhand smoke and breast cancer is "consistent with a causal association" in younger, mainly premenopausal women. The 2006 US Surgeon General's report, The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke, concluded that there is "suggestive but not sufficient" evidence of a link at this point. In any case, women should be told that this possible link to breast cancer is yet another reason to avoid contact with secondhand smoke.

The 2006 US Surgeon General's report reached several important conclusions:

Secondhand smoke causes premature death and disease in children and in adults who do not smoke.
Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), acute respiratory infections, ear problems, and more severe asthma. Smoking by parents causes breathing (respiratory) symptoms and slows lung growth in their children.
Secondhand smoke immediately affects the heart and blood circulation in a harmful way. It also causes heart disease and lung cancer.
The scientific evidence shows that there is no "safe" level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
Many millions of Americans, both children and adults, are still exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes and workplaces despite a great deal of progress in tobacco control.
The only way to fully protect non-smokers from exposure to secondhand smoke indoors is to prevent all smoking in that indoor space or building. Separating smokers from non-smokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating buildings cannot keep non-smokers from being exposed to secondhand smoke.

Where Is Secondhand Smoke a Problem?

There are 3 locations where you should be especially concerned about exposure to secondhand smoke:

Your Workplace

The workplace is a major source of secondhand smoke exposure for adults. Secondhand smoke meets the criteria to be classified as a potential cancer-causing agent by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the federal agency responsible for health and safety regulations in the workplace. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), another federal agency, also recommends that secondhand smoke be considered a potential occupational carcinogen. Because there are no known safe levels, they recommend that exposures to secondhand smoke be reduced to the lowest possible levels.

Secondhand smoke exposure in the workplace has been linked to an increased risk for heart disease and lung cancer among adult non-smokers. The Surgeon General has concluded that smoke-free workplace policies are the only effective way to do away with secondhand smoke exposure in the workplace. Separating smokers from non-smokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating the building cannot prevent exposure if people smoke inside the building. Aside from protecting non-smokers, workplace smoking restrictions may also encourage smokers who wish to quit or reduce their use of tobacco products.

Public Places

Everyone can be exposed to secondhand smoke in public places, such as restaurants, shopping centers, public transportation, schools, and daycare centers. Although some businesses are reluctant to ban smoking, there is no credible evidence that going smoke-free is bad for business. Public places where children go are a special area of concern.

Your Home

Making your home smoke-free may be one of the most important things you can do for the health of your family. Any family member can develop health problems related to secondhand smoke. Children are especially sensitive. In the United States, 21 million, or 35% of children live in homes where residents or visitors smoke in the home on a regular basis. About 50% to 75% of children in the United States have detectable levels of cotinine, the breakdown product of nicotine, in their blood.

Think about it: we spend more time at home than anywhere else. A smoke-free home protects your family, your guests, and even your pets.

What About Smoking Odors?

There is no research in the medical literature about the cancer-causing effects of cigarette odors. The literature does show that secondhand tobacco smoke can get into hair, clothing, and other surfaces. Though unknown, the cancer-causing effects would likely be very small compared to direct exposure to secondhand smoke, such as living in a house with a smoker.

What Can Be Done About Secondhand Smoke?

Local, state, and federal authorities can enact public policies to protect people from secondhand smoke and protect children from tobacco-caused diseases and addiction. Because there are no safe levels of secondhand smoke, it is important that any such policies be as strong as possible, and that they do not prevent action at other levels of government.

Many US local and state governments, and even federal governments in some other countries, have decided that protecting the health of employees and others in public places is of the utmost importance. And many have passed clean indoor air laws in recent years. While the laws vary from place to place, they are becoming more common. Detailed information on smoking restrictions in each state is available from the American Lung Association at link removed.

To learn how you can become involved in reducing exposure to secondhand smoke, contact your American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 (1-800-227-2345).

Additional Resources

Other Organizations

In addition to the American Cancer Society, other sources of information and support include*:

American Heart Association

Telephone: 1-800-AHA-USA-1 (1-800-242-8721)