Photo courtesy of The New York Times (Google Images)

Noelle Jeffries

In the United States, smoking has always been a controversial topic as it is very injurious to the human body. Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body, causes many diseases, and generally reduces the health of smokers.

Smoking publicly is also dangerous because smokers not only harm themselves, but those around them.

Smokefree.gov of The National Cancer Institute’s Tobacco Control Research Branch, is taking initiative by designing strong media-based campaigns to ban smoking in the United States.

 Looking at Both Sides

Smokers feel that banning smoking limits one’s individuality and is a humans’ free will. Employees of the tobacco industry argue that the ban will cause job cuts. LiveScience.com also opposed the smoking ban by listing some benefits of smoking, such as: low risk of Parkinson’s disease, low risk of death after some heart attack, and reduced chance of obesity.

Sticking to the Facts

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The average smoker believes smoking is an act of “singularity” and their “free will”. However, statistics from Lung.org reveal that secondhand smoke has led to both lung cancer and heart disease, resulting in approximately 40,000 deaths. Smoking is never just a one-man act, it can harshly affect those around us.

As for unemployment in the tobacco industry, there are a plethora of ways to nail a job. Due to our digital society there are many apps, websites, social pages, and tons of other avenues to locate a job. Furthermore, tobacco employees must think realistically. Your job ultimately reduces life spans and kills. LiveScience noted that there were benefits to smoking, but it forgot to mention its many dangers. Smoking is known for its detrimental consequences like cancers, heart attacks, a series of diseases, asthma, loss of teeth, low bone density, and so much more.

Photo Courtesy of Health Essential Cleveland Clinic (Google Images)

Taking a Stand

Smoking has been severely linked to multiple devastating diseases.

According to USA Today, smoking also kills about half its smokers, reduces life spans by about 10 years on average, and kills about 6 million people worldwide every year.

Governments all over the world have proposed a range of options to try to prohibit and eventually ban smoking. Such measures include increased taxation on tobacco products, bans on advertisement, and increase in the areas where smoking is prohibited.

Ban Smoking for Good

Smoking is similar to writing yourself a death ticket. It is causing long-term effects for both smokers and nonsmokers while claiming the lives of loved ones. The topic of banning smoking is very debatable and, in many cases, has reached compromises. However, despite the positive sensation associated with smoking, the arguments against it are strong. Smoking is proven to be harmful to health and many deadly diseases are associated with it. Smoking can also harm innocent bystanders by offering second hand smoke. Banning smoking will not only reduce disease rates and health risks, but it will also save lives.