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Joined: 04 Sep 2006
Posts: 210
Location: United Kingdom
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 Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 12:57 pm Post subject: Consequences of using tobacco |
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The use of tobacco has many negative consequences for the individual user and for society at large. Some of these have been exaggerated by anti-smoking campaigners in the past. There is no need for that, the facts are frightening enough.
Damage to health
Although nicotine is the addictive agent within tobacco, there are several thousand other chemicals present in the drug, many of which are harmful to health. The principle harmful substances are tar and carbon monoxide.
Illnesses such as lung cancer, duodenal ulcers, emphysema and coronary heart disease are all related to smoking.
The tar present in tobacco smoke is a known carcinogen. Several other chemicals in tobacco smoke may also cause cancer. Smokers run a higher risk of contracting lung cancer than non-smokers.
Smoking causes shortness of breath and contributes toward many respiratory diseases.
Smoking accounts for the majority of deaths from emphysema (swelling of air sacs in the lung). Once a disease that affected only men, many emphysema deaths now occur among women.
Smoking is a major risk factor for damage to blood vessels. Arteries that carry blood to leg, arm and heart muscles become narrower and if a blockage occurs muscle cells will die. This can result in muscle damage, the loss of an arm or leg, or a heart attack.
Nicotine Dependence
Nicotine addiction is the most widespread example of drug dependence in the UK and in other countries around the world. Nicotine is both pysically and psychologically addictive.
Nine out of ten smokers say they want to stop smoking but have great difficulty in doing so.
Smokers who stop using tobacco experience distressing withdrawal symptoms. These include feelings of frustration, anger and anxiety, along with difficulty in concentrating and restlessness or agitation.
Social consequences
Smoking is no longer considered to be socially acceptable. It is now banned on public transport in the UK and in many commercial premises. The possible health risks associated with passive smoking (involuntarily inhaling the smoke of another person) has led to many non-smokers demanding the right to breath unpolluted air in the workplace and in some leisure venues such as restaurants. Smoking is seen as anti-social behaviour today.
Financial consequences
Smoking entails considerable financial costs for the individual and for the country as a whole.
Smokers are more likely to be ill than non-smokers, with the associated increased costs to the UK health care system.
Smoking is responsible for many fires each year in commercial and private premises. This destroys property and costs money - but it also costs lives.
Smokers have twice the accident rate of non-smokers.
Smokers are more likely to experience early retirement from work through disability.
Smokers have higher rates of absenteeism from work than non-smoker.
Legal consequences
It is illegal to sell tobacco or tobacco products to any person under 16 years of age in the UK, although the possession or use of these products by anyone under 16 is not illegal. This law is not always adhered to by some shopkeepers etc. who sell tobacco.
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