Good Research Paper About Should Cigarettes Be Banned In The US/ The Health Factors Behind Smoking

- History of tobacco smoking in America
- The presence of tobacco in America dates back to the seventeenth century. Initially, tobacco was grown by poor farmers as a foundation crop. The demand was low and it was cheaper to acquire. However, subsequent wars increased the consumption of chewing tobacco, smoking pipes and cigars. Eventually, the market grew with the availability of slaves. Although slavery had existed long before tobacco was planted, the sudden increase in demand created an unexpected opportunity. The slave labor was incorporated into the tobacco labor force. Moreover, machine produced cigarettes reared its ugly head in the 1810s. Since then the cigarette cemented itself as an intrinsic part of American culture.
- America’s apex killer
- According to renowned man-eater hunter Jim Corbett, man-eaters are illusive and adaptive with surroundings that protect, provide cover to pounce on the next unsuspecting victim. The American tobacco industry however, is the apex man-eater. It has no natural enemies to threaten its existence. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2010, stated that tobacco smoking accounts for 68.04% of American deaths in a year on average; the foremost killer. Alcohol rates in second place at a distant 12.82%. Despite such alarming fatality rates, the tobacco industry remains untouched barring a few civil litigations. The revenue generated by the apex killer is over thirty-two billion US dollars accompanied by twenty US million dollars that represents the tobacco industry in congress. The US government spends in excess of five trillion US dollars to combat terrorism every year, and yet since 1970, only 4809 American lives (including armed forces and 9/11) have lost their lives to terror attacks (nation.time.com, “The $5 Trillion War on Terror”). When compared to tobacco related deaths in a year, it still amounts to just 1.09%. A staggering 440,000 American lives are lost to the apex killer every year. If the US government is committed to keeping its citizens safe from harm, it ought to take stern measures to tame the apex American killer.
- Vital Statistics on smoking in the United States
- Sex
- Men in America have long held the belief that smoking and masculinity were related. This belief contributes to their higher indulgence over women. (Livescience.com, “Masculine boys and feminine girls are more likely to engage in cancer-causing behavior”)
- Age
- The age table suggests that the maturity level reduces the chance of continued smoking. In the first phase teenagers test various gigs including smoking in their efforts to “fit in”. Although they check out smoking or chewing tobacco, they also have a variety of activities at that age to try out. Moreover, access to the substance is restricted at that age. Hence, the lower rate of usage. The age curve peaks during the 25 – 44 years due to the career prospects towards marriage. This curve eventually drops there on. Furthermore it reduces drastically for the final phase. Reasons could range from the birth of grandchildren to contracting one of tobacco’s horrifying consequences.
- Education Level
- A survey conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) indicated that many tobacco users were ignorant to the harmful effects of prolonged use of the addictive substance. This logic matches the findings of the Centers for Disease Control. Furthermore, the education level determines the reduction in the usage pattern. Although the first slab has the second highest participation level, this slab also contains the population below the poverty line with no access to any form of schooling. This finding is featured in the next section.
- Income
- Understandably, the population marked below the poverty line has a significantly higher participation level. This is primarily due to a lack of awareness on the harmful effects of tobacco usage.
- (cdc.gov, “Cigarette Smoking in the United States”)
- Elvis Presley, in one of his interviews stated, “I'll never feel comfortable taking a strong drink, and I'll never feel easy smoking a cigarette. I just don't think those things are right for me” (brainyquote.com, “Smoking quotes”).
- Harmful effects of smoking
- America’s apex killer has an arsenal of effects that can cause cancer in any part of the human body. Smoking tobacco compares the blowing up of a pipe bomb. It not only decimates its user; it will also grievously injure anyone close by. There are six key areas in the human body where cancer can be lethal.
- Lungs: The most common embodiment is lung cancer. It is a painful manifestation that clogs the lungs with enough tar to cover a 3 feet x 2 feet patch. Lung cancer also causes seven thousand non-smoker (passive smoking) deaths in the United States every year.
- Kidney: There are other substances that can cause kidney cancer, smoking increases the risk by 51%. Although the mortality rate for this form of cancer is only 21% in the United States, the success of the treatment depends on the stage and spread of the cancer. The usual procedure includes removal of the entire kidney for later stages.
- Pancreas: Cancer cells that form in the pancreas not only affect the glandular organ, they also spread to other parts of the body. Pancreatic cancer is one of the most painful of the cancers to bear.
- Colon: Colon cancer (also known as colorectal or bowel or rectal) develop near the large intestine. This manifestation has the potential to expand and spread to other parts of the body.
- Bladder: Cancer in the bladder has a 38% kill rate. Smoking is considered the chief contributor for this form of cancer.
- Liver: Liver cancer is one of the deadliest cancers with an insignificant survival rate. Tumors form in the liver and enlarge themselves; subsequently halting or disrupting the normal functions of the liver.
- Apart from cancer smoking can also lead to respiratory diseases like asthma and chronic bronchitis, cardiovascular diseases like heart attack and blood pressure, pregnancy complications, post birth diseases like sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and birth defects, fertility and sexual function (in men) and diabetes.Loni Anderson, the star of the movie American Pie lost both of her parents to cancer states, “Smoking is related to practically every terrible thing that can happen to you” (brainyquote.com, “Smoking quotes”).
- Economic deficit caused by smoking
- Smoking related deaths cost the US economy significantly since they include stockbrokers, bankers, software engineers, teachers, doctors and soldiers. The cost to replace them is enormous. In addition, premature deaths of young professionals make it next to impossible in balancing their responsibilities.
- It costs the United States a whooping 81 billion US dollars to bear this cost on the economy. Losing a few hundred thousand people every year in a country that boasts a total population of three hundred and nineteen million to smoking is devastating. Moreover, forty-four million Americans do not have medical insurance (pbs.org, “The Uninsured”) and an estimated seventy billion US dollars (usatoday.com, “Fewer US adults are smoking, government study shows”) are spent every year for treatment of smoking related diseases. That works to over three thousand US (tax) dollars for every active smoker in the United States today. Significant wastes to allow the tobacco industry make mammoth profits at the cost of four hundred thousand US citizens every year.
- Immediate benefits of giving up smoking
- Actress Christine Lahti states, “I'm more proud of quitting smoking than of anything else I've done in my life, including winning an Oscar” (brainyquote.com, “Smoking quotes”).
- Quitting smoking effects immediate changes in the human body. They include returning the heartbeat to normal, improve blood circulation and blood pressure, blood oxygen levels return to normal and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, continuous reduction in risk of heart attack; lung function increases and eases breathing, increase in energy levels for physical activity and gain up to fifteen years of life.
- (cdc.gov, “Within 20 Minutes of Quitting”)
- Who benefits – the tobacco industry or the American nation or its citizens?
- The tobacco industry turns over eighty-five billion US dollars every year. Ironically, tobacco companies spend five hundred dollars (per individual) approximately to reel in a future tobacco user.
- In a country that remains concerned of painful execution of sadistic death row inmates; contrastingly stays silent over agonizing deaths of over four hundred thousand of its population every year (rt.com, ‘Death row inmates may face “torturous” end with animal-killing drug’). We take pride in imposing new laws to protect our civilians against crime and violence. The law clearly states that if an action denotes the intention to cause harm to another, the individual who commits the action is punishable. Tobacco companies know their products will harm its users and any innocent bystander (secondhand smoke). They intentionally pass on toxic substance to profit it; a substance they know to be harmful. How can the government and the courts hold that it does not amount to aggravated assault in the least?
- The perpetrator attracts victims, enchants them for a while, subjects them to painfully agonizing periods, kills them and proceeds to attract more victims. How is modus operandi different from that of the average serial killer? Senator Ted Kennedy, the youngest brother of late John F Kennedy once stated, “It's disgraceful that year after year, Congress has bowed to the tobacco lobby and refused to act” (brainyquote.com, “Smoking quotes”).
- Clearly, the citizens don’t have any rights in this matter and the government is a mute spectator. The only party that emerges a clear winner is the tobacco industry; atop four hundred thousand American lives.
- Can the United States of America carry this burden further?
- The American nation bears economic losses of one hundred and fifty-one billion US dollars to allow the tobacco industry earn eighty-five billion US dollars. Furthermore, eliminating the tobacco industry completely will still save sixty-six billion US dollars for the government. Although the United States of America is the richest and biggest economy in the world, sixty-six billion is not a small sum to ignore.
- Sixty-six billion will allow the US government to provide healthcare, housing and education to the economically vulnerable population. These are excellent reasons to measures that at least end the mindless slaughter in the name of smoking. Nat King Cole unsuccessfully battled lung cancer stated, “Get me well so I can get on television and tell people to stop smoking” (brainyquote.com, “Smoking quotes”) during his treatment.
- How to act decisively?
- There are a host of measures that assist in reducing tobacco usage and ultimately discourage habitual users. Although existing machinery involved in spreading awareness exist, their reach is limited to only two hundred thousand Americans per year. This number is half of the number of people who die from the habit. The first measures should involve restricting the advertising of tobacco products; barring their presence in any form of advertisement is the first step to eradicate the problem. Moreover, the tobacco products should be made to display pictures to explain the harmful effects of tobacco usage. Awareness documentaries should be played during intermissions at movie halls, ball games and on television. This will maximize the reach of the awareness program. The use of tobacco in popular Hollywood flicks should be restricted with additional taxes if they exhibit tobacco products. If they do use, they should sport a warning in the screen below. Tobacco companies should also be restricted from sponsoring popular sporting events.
- Works Cited
- Thompson, Mark. Time Inc. The $5 Trillion War on Terror, 2011. Web. 2 December 2014.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cigarette Smoking in the United States, 2013. Web. 2 December 2014.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Economic Facts about U.S. Tobacco Production and Use, 2013. Web. 2 December 2014.
- Waseem, Fathimah. USA Today. Fewer US adults are smoking, government study shows, 2013. Web. 2 December 2014.
- Blaszczak-Boxe, Agata. LiveScience. Masculine Boys And Feminine Girls Are More Likely To Engage In Cancer-Causing Behavior, 2014. Web. 2 December 2014.
- Corbett, Jim “Man-Eaters of Kumaon.” Oxford (1954). Print.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cigarette Smoking in the United States, 2013. Web. 2 December 2014.
- Public Broadcasting Service. The Uninsured, 2014. Web. 2 December 2014.
- RT. Death row inmates may face “torturous” end with animal-killing drug, 2011. Web. 2 December 2014.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Within 20 Minutes of Quitting, 2004. Web. 2 December 2014.
- Brainy Quote. Smoking Quotes, 2014. Web. 2 December 2014.