Smoking is unethical. It causes cancer, death, and you don’t even have to be smoking the cigarette to suffer the side effects. It’s not only affecting those that do it directly, but the lives of those around them.
This is a problem. Since 1964, second-hand smoke has been the cause of death for around 2,500,000 non-smoking people, according to the CDC (Center for Disease Control). Just the smoke from burning tobacco products contains about 7,000 chemicals, and even short-term exposure can have an impact. Children exposed to the smoke are in danger of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, respiratory problems, and sudden asthma attacks, among other things. Adults are subject to heart disease, cancer, and strokes. Is it really worth putting the lives of others, children even, just to smoke your life away?
Though the problem has been decreasing, it’s still affecting many Americans. The CDC reports as of 2011-2012, “25.3% nonsmokers had measurable levels of cotinine.” Measuring the levels of cotinine in your body is a marker of how much tobacco exposure your body has been put through.
There truly is no benefit to this killer, other than a short-lived emotional relief. Dr. Ivan Pavlov fostered a theory called Pavlovian Reflex. This theory was based off how he was able to make his dogs salivate at the sound of a bell, even with the absence of food. It describes the emotional aspects behind tobacco addiction. When an addict smells, sees, or hears something about smoking, there is usually a consuming trigger to get one for oneself. It is a hard addiction to overcome, due to the constant presence of other smokers, and cigarettes in movies and media, but it can be overcome. Nicotine gum, patches, and therapy is available.
All in all, this has to end. If you need more reasons, just look at the statistics. Do whatever you would like with your own life, but we need to put our foot down when it comes to the lives of others, strangers even. The lives of everyday people can be ended because you wanted to take a puff. So stop. You can beat this. Not just for yourself, but for the people you share this Earth with.