Ws Cigarette Smoke Kids Health example essay topic

Every year there are more and more people using cigarettes and unfortunately cigarettes are responsible for many deaths not only in adults but also among our youth. Tobacco has affected every area in our society. This is one of the biggest problems in our country and in the rest of the world. "Over three million adolescents smoke cigarettes and over one million adolescent males currently use smokeless tobacco. Tobacco use remains the leading cause of death in the United States, causing more than 400.000 deaths each year and resulting in more than $50 billion in direct medical costs. More than 3,000 teenagers and children begin smoking every year" claims the Surgeon General in his report 'Preventing Tobacco Use Among Young People' (p, 6) 1994.

I am going to give my point of view about smoking and explain the consequences of smoking based on my research. I think that there are two main, powerful influences that entice people to use cigarettes: friends and advertising. "Over 50 percent of teens report smoking their first cigarette with a friend", according to Robert Wood Johnson in his article called 'Youth Access to Tobacco' in 1995. In my opinion tobacco advertising increases young people's risk of smoking by implying that smoking has social benefits. "The tobacco industry spends $5.2 billion a year on advertising to convince young people they should take up smoking. About 85 percent of adolescent smokers prefer either Marlboro, Newport or Camel, the three most heavily advertised brands" states Robert Wood Johnson in his article called Youth Access to Tobacco in 1995.

Currently very few people begin to use tobacco as adults. Virtually all initial use occurs by the time people graduate from high school. Many of the teenagers start smoking because they think it makes them look cool. "Tobacco use primarily begins in early adolescence, typically by age 16. At least 3.1 million adolescents and 25 percent of 17 and 18 year-olds are current smokers. 28 percent of the nation's high school are currently cigarette smokers" from a report by the United States Surgeon General in 1994.

Tobacco is often the first drug used by those young people who end up using alcohol, marijuana and other drugs. In my opinion adolescents with lower levels of school achievement, with fewer skills to resist pervasive influences to use tobacco, or with friends who use tobacco are more likely to use tobacco. "Cigarette smokers are also more likely to get into fights, carry weapons and attempt suicide" claims the Surgeon General in his article called Preventing Tobacco Use Among Young People in 1994. The fact that more teenagers are smoking every day is a big problem in our society. Every day more people die as a consequence of smoking.

A cigarette contains various substances that have profound effects on the body and can cause a multitude of diseases. I think that if smokers would know what kind of diseases they could have in the future from smoking, many of them would be trying to quit, or better, never start. Unfortunately many of the teenagers who smoke regularly are already addicted to nicotine. Many of them would like to quit smoking and they have made numerous but usually unsuccessful attempts to quit. In his article 'Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking', written in 1992, Charles Sherman states: "Cigarette smoking is still considered the chief preventable cause of premature disease and death in the United States. On average, someone who smokes a pack or more of cigarettes each day lives 7 years less than someone who never smoked.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in developed countries, and smoking is considered one of the major risk factors. Smoking is also the major cause of heart attacks, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, hypertension and the worst of all, cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death directly attributed to smoking. Smoking is also the major cause of laryngeal cancer, oral cancer, esophageal cancer, bladder and kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer and cervical cancer. Leukemia cases are also related to smoking.

Studies have indicated that smoking is the primary risk factor for accelerated decline in respiratory function". (p, 1-7) states Charles Sherman in his report "Health Consequences of Smoking" in 1991. Two secondary means that smoking is causing people to die are second hand smoke and women who smoke during pregnancy. Smoking not only harms people who are using it, it also affects people who live around them. "Second hand smoke is the smoke that individuals breathe when they are located in the same air space as smokers" by OMA Committee on population Health in 1992. In my opinion people who smoke should realize that they are not only harming themselves but also the people that they love. For example if the person is a parent and he / she has children, they need to make sure not to smoke in front of their children because the children are adversely affected and also to avoid setting a bad example for their children.

"Tobacco smoke contains more than 4000 substances of which more than 40 are known to cause cancer. Second hand smoke is a major cause of children's illnesses" claims W.S. Rickert in his article called Cigarette, Smoke and Kids' Health in 1995. Believed or not, smokers are guilty of many deaths every year. "Two years ago a research report estimated that nearly 400 deaths every year were attributable to second hand smoke" states Annette King in 2001. Another case proving that smoking affects everybody is women smoking during pregnancy. I feel that young women who are addicted to smoking and then get pregnant are the ones that probably continue smoking during their pregnancy because they are not mature enough to quit smoking, nor do they realize the consequences.

"In the United States, about 15 to 30 percent of women smoke, many of them while they are pregnant. This is a major health problem because not only can smoking harm a woman's health, but smoking during pregnancy can lead to serious health problems in newborns. If all pregnant women in the United States stopped smoking, there would be an estimated 10 percent reduction in infant deaths. Currently, about 12 percent of women in the United States smoke during pregnancy", according to M. Honein in the American Journal of Epidemiology, October 2000. In my opinion I also think that the women who are pregnant and do not smoke should avoid exposure to other people's smoke because their babies will be affected. CONCLUSION In my opinion parents may exert their influence by disapproving of smoking, being involved in their children's free time, in their activities and encouraging their academic achievement and school involvement.

I also think that schools should increase their tobacco education, and institute a complete ban on tobacco products by anyone on school grounds. If cigarette smoking were eliminated we would be preventing many deaths. I think that the sale of tobacco products to minors should be prohibited even more strongly than it currently is, and taxes should increase further on tobacco products. I also believe that second hand smoke is one of the major environmental health risks facing society today. If you are thinking about smoking, think again since smoking is bad for you and adversely affects the ones you love. I also believe that women should stop smoking before they become pregnant and remain smoke free throughout pregnancy and after the baby is born.

Is sad to know that there are many people that already know the consequences of smoking and they continue doing it, yet when they start having health problems they feel sorry for themselves. Unfortunately it will then be too late. SOURCES Wood R. (1995). Youth Access to Tobacco.

Retrieved March 25, 2003 from web Sherman C. (1991) Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking. Retrieved March 25, 2003 from web healthconsequencessmoking. html Surgeon General (1994) Preventing Tobacco Use Among Young People. Retrieved May 27, 2003 from web OMA Committee on Population Health, (1992) OMA position paper on second-hand smoke. Retrieved May 27, 2003 from web 2nd smoke. htm Rickert, WS (1995) Cigarette Smoke & Kids' Health. Retrieved May 27, 2003 from web King A. (2001) Action on Smoking and Health.

Retrieved May 27, 2003 from web Honein M. (2000). Smoking during pregnancy. Retrieved May 27, 2003 from web.