CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF SMOKING CIGARETTES
THESIS STATEMENT
Smoking has been observed to be the most popular method of consuming tobacco. Unfortunately, this habit is getting out of hand especially in this day and age where children as young as 12 years of age are engaging in the habit.
ORGANIZATIONAL FLOW CHART
Family
Non- smoker Advertisements Smoker Second hand
Smoker
Peer/Friends
INTRODUCTION
In America and other countries, smoking cigarettes is a common habit amongst the young and the old. Majority of smokers have been observed to indulge in the habit during early adulthood (Cockerham 112). This can be attributed to the fact that during this particular phase in life, smoking cigarettes provides the user with pleasurable sensations that are easily addictive. Recent studies carried out have revealed that approximately 1.22 billion individuals smoke cigarettes and this number is set to rise in the coming years (Johnson & Bain 200). Studies have also revealed that men as compared to women are more likely to smoke cigarettes while those from a poor background are more likely to smoke cigarettes as compared to wealthy individuals.
Once an individual indulges in the habit of smoking cigarettes, it becomes difficult to break the habit due to the fact that tobacco contains nicotine, a highly addictive drug (Johnson & Bain 201). People smoke cigarettes for a number of reasons for instance, some think or perceive it as cool, especially the younger generation. Other individuals indulge in it as a result of peer pressure or because some of their family members also smoke cigarettes (Cockerham 133).
RESEARCH
Health experts have cited that those individuals who started smoking cigarettes during their adolescent stage never expected to become addicted and that 9 out of 10 smokers started before they reached the age of 18 years (Johnson & Bain 202). People who have smoked cigarettes for years continue to do so as they are afraid to experience negative reinforcement and withdrawal symptoms that are associated with their decision of quitting.
Causes and Effects of Smoking Cigarettes
Recent studies that have been carried out to investigate the reasons as to why people smoke cigarettes show that majority of people smoke cigarettes because of depression (Cockerham 138). Those who do not suffer from this disorder do not engage in the habit. In the case of younger adults, majority of them smoke cigarettes as a result of observing their parents (Cockerham 154). What most of these individuals tend to ignore or are not completely aware is that smoking cigarettes has a number of causes and effects that can prove harmful to human health in the course of time. As aforementioned, tobacco smoke contains nicotine which is a form of poisonous alkoid and is addictive once used (Johnson & Bain 203).
Smoking cigarettes affect the lungs and medical practitioners attribute this as a leading cause in lung cancer (Johnson & Bain 204). Statistics reveal that approximately 430,000 individuals die each year as a result of complications caused by smoking cigarettes. In addition, American Lung Association (ALA) states that 87% of lung cancers, chronic bronchitis and emphysema are as a result of smoking cigarettes (Cockerham 200). Most people do not realize that those who engage in the habit of smoking cigarettes also endanger the lives and health of non-smokers in that they force them to become passive smokers. Passive smokers are in danger of suffering from lung cancer as they tend to inhale cigarette smoke of those who smoke (Johnson & Bain 205). Studies released in the year 2007 show that symptoms of heart diseases tend to be higher in passive smokers, especially those working in crowded places or offices for instance factories.
CONCLUSION
In order for the society to minimize the causes and effects of smoking cigarettes, people need to make individual effort to discourage the habit. For instance, television and billboard advertisements on smoking cigarettes should be banned or restricted as this tends to encourage the younger generation to engage in the habit of cigarette smoking.
WORKS CITED
Cockerham, William C. Social causes of health and disease. Cambridge, UK: Polity. 2007. Pp. 112 – 232.
Johnson, N. W., and Bain, C.A. Tobacco and Oral disease. EU Working Group on Tobacco and Oral Health. Br Dent J., 189. 2000. Pp. 200 – 206.
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