Do you remember the Marlboro Man? He’s a cowboy who smokes, an icon of coolness. The Marlboro Man ran in ads for years, as cigarette companies tried to send the message that smoking makes you tough and rugged. But the irony is, the men who appeared in Marlboro Man ads died of lung cancer. These guys might have been tough, but cigarettes were tougher.
Smoking has always had a big social aspect to it. Teens – who tend to be risk takers anyway – like the fact that they’re doing something special or dangerous. For some, it’s a way of getting attention, whether it’s good or bad. And smokers have a bond, let’s face it – huddling together outside a building for a smoke lights up conversation in more ways than one. Research has also shown that nicotine has the ability to stimulate the flow of “feel-good” chemicals in your brain. It can suppress feelings and even the appetite for food. That’s why so many people still smoke even though the evidence can’t be disputed: smoking can kill you.
Maybe your parents smoke. Maybe your friends smoke. How bad can it really be?
Forget the glamorous ads. Here are the cold hard facts:
• Cigarettes and smokeless tobacco kill hundreds of thousands of Americans every year. Every day, 1,200 people die from cancer, heart attack, emphysema or stroke caused by smoking.
• Nicotine and dozens of other chemicals in tobacco are poisonous. Nicotine — the ingredient in tobacco that makes it so addictive — is so poisonous that one drop of it in purified form can kill you. It’s so lethal that it has been used as a pesticide for centuries.
• About 30 percent of people who start smoking at a young age will continue to smoke and die early from a smoking-related disease.
• Most smokers start before they’re 18. And people who start young have the toughest time kicking the habit.
Cigarette smoke contains over 4,800 chemicals, 69 of which are known to cause cancer.
Not convinced? Think maybe you’ll be one of lucky ones who don’t get sick from smoking cigarettes? Consider smoking’s short-term fallout:
• yellow teeth
• icky breath
• smelly clothes
• more frequent coughs and colds
• less stamina
Smoking is expensive, too: one pack a day costs about $1,000 a year! And quitting is extremely tough; fewer than 1 in 10 who try to quit actually succeed.
By the way, chewing tobacco and snuff aren’t any better than cigarettes. Use of smokeless tobacco can damage your gums, make your teeth fall out, or, worst case, cause oral cancer.
Remember, cigarette companies make it their business to market to young people just like you every chance they get. They put ads in magazines you read, whether it’s sports or fashion magazines. You’ll also see ads in convenience stores, where you stop for snacks. The companies know that if they can get you hooked when you’re young, they may have a customer for life.
And what do you do if a friend offers you a cigarette? It can be tough to say no. So say it quick: “No thanks.” Short and sweet works best. If the subject comes up again, change it!
This article has been reviewed by BodiMojo expert Dr. Karen Devaney.
