Kick A Cigarette Smoking Habit For Health Reasons

Going back a few generations, people who were taking up smoking cigarettes didn’t have prior warning about the health risks involved. It was a common sight to see people smoking in the shopping malls, cinemas, clubs, bowling alleys, office buildings, flights, public transit and other public places as there were no laws against it.

Due to the findings in studies that found tobacco smokers run a high risk of developing cancers, heart disease, strokes and other illnesses associated with cigarette smoking, the Australian government passed Legislation in Australia banning people from smoking indoors in clubs, pubs, shopping centres and other places. However, the laws governing smoking bans in enclosed public places vary for each state.

According to ‘Tobacco in Australia’ strong evidence suggests the effectiveness of Australian legislation banning indoor smoking in public places for this country has been very successful. Studies also found non-smokers, known as ‘passive smokers’ who inhale the cigarette smoke of others run the same high risks of developing the same illnesses as tobacco smokers.

What’s in the cigarette?
Toxic chemicals and agricultural additives in cigarettes and tobacco product are just some of the harmful chemicals in cigarettes. According to Quit Smoking there are around 4000 chemicals in cigarettes of which some are agricultural chemicals and additives, ammonia, metals and radioactive compounds. Some of these are in the tobacco and others in the paper of the cigarette. Most of these are known to be carcinogenic – cancer causing chemicals.

In an attempt to enhance the flavour of cigarettes, sweeteners like honey and sugar are added which may be harmless when ingested, but when burned their chemical compounds change to become harmful substances.  When the smoke is inhaled it travels into the lungs and then passes into the bloodstream. The heart pumps the harmful chemicals around in the body through vital organs and into the brain.

Public Disclosure of Additives by Tobacco Companies
Since 2000 there’s been a voluntary agreement between the Commonwealth and the tobacco makers to disclose elements contained in Australian cigarettes.

These disclosures include:
Composite disclosures of the many ingredients that the organisations say they possibly utilise.
There are composite disclosures listing major ingredients by weight and brand.

Not Disclosed
The industry did not reveal the majority of the added substances used as a part of specific brands since that would mean surrendering prized formulas and trade secrets that they say would cause them to lose the competitive upper hand.
The takeaway – While there’s enough evidence that cigarette smoking is harmful to our mental and physical health, there’s no way for consumers to actually know all of the ingredients and the levels added for each brand.

Smoking Related Illnesses
● Cancer – in the mouth, Lungs, bowel, nose, kidney, liver, bladder, throat, esophagus, pancreas, ovary, cervix, stomach and bone marrow.
● Heart Disease – Heart attack and stroke.
● Poor Blood Circulation – a painful condition can develop due to poor circulation in the hands and feet leading to gangrene and amputation in more severe cases.
● Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) – includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Is Smoking Declining In Australia?
According to the Cancer Council in 1997 24% of the NSW adult population were smokers. The percentage decreased to 14.7% by 2011. Figures taken from the The Australian Bureau of Statistics show that in June 2011 the NSW population reached 7.5 Million people, of which 1.36 million were children leaving the remaining 6.14 million adult population of which 902,580 were smokers.
These figures show that people are becoming more health conscious, but despite the general public being warned through the Australian Government’s anti-smoking campaigns about the health risks and dangers of smoking, the number of tobacco smokers remains high.

Did you know?
According to The Department Of Health as of 1 December 2012, Australian law requires “health warnings to cover at least 75 per cent of the front of most tobacco packaging, 90 per cent of the back of cigarette packaging and 75 per cent of the back of most other tobacco product packaging.” Their objectives include discouraging others to use tobacco products by increasing the effectiveness of health warnings to reduce the chances of retail packaging to mislead consumers about the harmful effects that tobacco products.

In an attempt to protect their investment, US Tobacco firm, Phillip Morris sued the Australian government, losing the high court battle. According to AFITNET, Dr Patricia Ranald, Convenor of the Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network was quoted as saying, “We welcome the High Court decision as a vindication of the Government’s right to regulate tobacco as an addictive substance that still kills 15,000 Australians per year.”

With the knowledge people have available today, why would anyone want start smoking?  The common excuses are:

● Denial? “It won’t happen to me!” Lying to ourselves is considered self destructive behaviour. Read facts and get help.
● Other people are doing it.
● To look cool and fit in with the crowd.

We need to value our own lives.  One question Christians can ask themselves is, “How does my habit glorify God? “   

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
“…Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

References and Resources
Original Article – Pen With A View
The Australian Government – The Introduction Of Plain Packaging Legislation
Smarter Than Smoking is an educational Anti-smoking website providing resources to parents, teachers, children and youth with information on facts, statistics on cigarettes and tobacco products, E-cigarettes and more.
QUIT – Reasons to Quit – Health Risks of Smoking
QUIT NOW
ABS
Tobacco in Australia – Legislation

Sandra Ciminelli
Cred. Dip.Couns.(Christian)