Within the last decade, medical researchers have placed more emphasis on the dangers of smoking and the negative effect that this has on smokers and non-smokers. These researches show what many persons have come to accept and that is that smoking is a danger to those who actually smoke and those who are in close proximity to the people who smoke. The fact is that smoking has terrible effects on people’s health, physical appearance and financial well-being. Some persons develop various chronic diseases as a result of years of smoking, while others carry the unpleasant scent of tobacco throughout their daily lives. Additionally, the cost of maintaining smoking habits causes financial strain on the smokers. But most importantly the addiction to smoking causes the smoker to disregard all policies on smoking as they must maintain their habits. Based on the medical and social researchers, a ban on smoking is the most appropriate action to take in order to create a healthy society.
A number of medical studies show that smoking leads to chronic health problems for the smoker. In addition, second hand smoking has become a serious problem in the society as those persons who do not smoke are still left open to those who smoke in their presence. Both smokers and non-smokers have to contend with the dangers of smoking and this in turn leads to a society that will become filled with health problems that could have otherwise been avoided. Children, in particular, face the greatest challenge as non-smokers as they suffer from the harmful effects of parents and other persons who smoke in their presence. Dr. Robert Proctor reveals that by far, “cigarette is the deadliest object in the history of human civilization” (Proctor 1) as cigarette smoking or cigarette inhalation is responsible for the deaths of nearly six million people annually (Proctor 1). This information allows one to look more carefully at where the world will be in another decade if there are no restrictions on smoking in public and private places.
The future looks dismal as Proctor further shows that in the twentieth century, smoking was responsible for the deaths of nearly 100 million people and that a billion people could actually die within the next century from cigarette smoking (Proctor 1). One may argue that the numbers are unreal as cigarette smoking could not have claimed that many lives, but the essence of Proctor’s research lies in the fact smoking is a danger to the health of people and will continue to be a challenge for the society. Smoking is dangerous as it kills almost half of the long-term cigarette smokers because of the level of addictive chemicals that are found in a single cigarette. In the article “What’s in a cigarette” the authors at the American Lung Association reveal that there are over 600 ingredients in a single cigarette and of this number sixty – nine of the chemical are known to be poisonous and can cause cancer, (What’s in a cigarette 1). Smokers knowingly inhale these chemicals and of course, they should suffer the consequences because of their personal choice. But, the ban on cigarettes will protect the innocent victims of smoking who do not have a voice or the means to remove themselves from the dangers of smoking.
In states such as Oregon, there is a proposed bill to make the possession of cigarettes illegal under the law. Rachael Rettner voices the views of a number of public health experts and bioethicists in arguing that the proposal “is well-intended, but from a practical standpoint, it's unlikely to happen” (Rettner 1). The truth is that as much as the government and the health conscious persons would want to make nicotine one of the controlled substances and place limitations on the amount of milligrams of nicotine that would make it illegal, the likelihood of forcing persons to quit smoking is unlikely to happen anytime soon. The current ban on smoking is proving to be difficult to implement as there are factors such as political and economic factors that will affect the state of banning smoking in the society. Interestingly, cigarettes bring in revenue and tobacco giants such as Marlborough contribute large taxes to the country.
Additionally, these cigarette companies employ thousands of workers around the world. The ban of cigarettes will of course have a negative impact on the economy and labor force, but one must think about the health of the members of the society and recognize whether the revenue from cigarette sale is more important than the health of the people. The choice should not e difficult to make as one will argue that the country needs revenue in order to take care of the needs of the society. But, the truth is that dead persons and hospitalized persons cannot buy or use cigarettes. The country will still lose as the same product that brings in revenue will eventually wipe out the population. This will make it difficult to earn revenue from factories that have to close because of the lack of marketing and buyers for the product.
Everyone has the right to one bad habit, but if that bad habit causes danger to the environment and the people in the environment it should be seen as an illegal act. The New England Medical Journal finds that the exposure to “smoking takes at least 10 years off a person's life” (Rettner 3) so why should anyone want to die early? Most smokers are aware of the dangers of smoking, but their addiction to the product dulls their rational thoughts. Arguably, the need to smoke is a personal choice and non-smokers also choose to remain in settings where smoking takes place. But, the truth is that many non – smokers cannot help but be in these places at times. It is therefore unfair to force these non-smokers to inhale the unwanted smoke.
Second-hand smoke is not filtered and causes even more danger to the non-smoker especially children. One would think that the well-meaning persons in the society would want to protect these children from the dangers of smoking in the same ways that they would want to protect children from rapists and murderers. To protect these non-smokers, the government must protect the public from the “murderers and rapists” that are released from these cigarette companies. Cigarette smokers rob the non-smokers of their right to a healthy life as they force their personal habits on those around them. Bans on smoking in public places are not enough as parents and siblings continue to smoke within the confines of their homes and this also put their children at risk of developing cancers and other lung related diseases. We all have the right to choose what we do with our lives. Non-smokers should get that right to choose to live in a smoke free environment and because of a ban on cigarette and cigarette sales.
In concluding, nicotine is that main ingredient in cigarettes that leads to addiction. The number of persons who quit every year is high, but the damage of nicotine addiction over the years has caused serious damage to the smokers and those around them. The health challenges are great as smoking is responsible for a large number of persons become chronically ill from the exposure to nicotine. Smokers send off nasty tobacco smell even after they have made attempts to remove the smell from their bodies or clothing. No one really wants the smell of nicotine close to them and yet smokers are often unaware of the discomfort to others. Smoking is expensive and causes the users to spend exorbitant amounts on cigarette annually. The truth is that the calming feeling from a cigarette does not last and persons will continue to smoke more and more cigarette to appease their cravings. The truth is that a ban on cigarette will help many persons who want to quit as they will have to hide and smoke and eventually they become tired of hiding and will stop. But, despite the ways in which the society plans to stop smoking, there is a continue cry from health conscious persons that banning cigarettes will decrease the number of smokers in the society.
References
Proctor, Robert (Dr.) Why band the sale of cigarettes? The case for abolition, (2013) Endgame
proposal, 2013;22:i27-i30 doi:10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2012-050811, Web 09 Apr 2016 <http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/22/suppl_1/i27.full>
Rettner, Rachel, Should Cigarettes Be Illegal? (2013) Web 09 Apr 2016
<http://www.livescience.com/26580-cigarettes-illegal.html>
What's In a Cigarette? The American Lung Association Web 09 Apr 2016
<http://www.lung.org/stop-smoking/smoking-facts/whats-in-a-cigarette.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/>
