common myths associated with smoking
Smoking is just a bad habit. Smoking is not just a habit, it is a harmful addiction. Whether it is chewing tobacco or smoking cigarettes, the drug, nictoine, is addictive. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, it states, "Through the use of cigarettes, cigars, and chewing tobacco, nicotine is one of the most heavily used addictive drugs in the United States" (National).
Smoking makes you look 'cool'. A major reason many young girls begin to smoke is because they see older people smoking and they want to be just like them. Many teen girls are concerned about their appearance and reputation within their social group. However, studies indicate that when it comes to dating and smoking, eight out of ten teen boys say they would not date a girl who smoked. Therefore, the common myth that smoking makes you look cool is false.
The younger you start smoking, the easier it is to quit. Many young people believe this, although it is very untrue. The majority of young people who smoke during their adolescent years, continue to smoke throughout their whole adulthood. The younger you start smoking, the more addicted to the substance you are. Therefore, in the long run, it is actually more difficult to quit the habit because of the strong addiction that has been created. According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, "Nicotine is a very addictive drug, and usually people make two or three tries, or more, before they successfully quit " ("How").
Only men smoke anymore. Smoking among women is significantly on the rise. Respirology states, "Approximately 22% of women in developed countries and 9% of women in developing countries smoke, equivalent to about 250 million women around the world, but because most women live in developing countries, there are numerically more women smokers in developing countries" (Mackay).
'Light' cigarettes are safer than 'regular' cigarettes. Let's make this plain and simple; the tobacco industries may advertise a safer, more environmentally-safe cigarette, but a cigarette is a cigarette. People who smoke 'light' cigarettes believe that they are safer than 'regular' cigarettes due to their taste. The American Cancer Society states, "A low-tar cigarette can be just as harmful as a high-tar cigarette because a person often takes deeper puffs, puffs more frequently, or smokes them to a shorter butt length" (American). 'Light' cigarettes may taste lighter or less harsh, but they are still filled with equally as much harmful chemicals such as tar and carbon dioxide!
Smoking helps me lose weight. Throughout a girls adolescene, many are concerned about their weight and appearance, this is a reason why they take up the habit. Studies have proven that smoking cigarettes in some people helps to control weight while in other people it does not have the same effect. Some people begin to gain weight while they are trying to quit smoking, but gaining a little weight is a bit less dangerous than still smoking. Simply, smoking is not an effective method in order to control your weight.
Smoking relaxes me. Many young people feel that smoking a cigarette relaxes your body, but in reality, it does the exact opposite. Chemical in a cigarette actually increase stress! For example, stopping for a quick "smoke-break" may feel like the cigarette is helping you relax, while it is really the actual break itself. There are many alternatives to relieving stress rather than smoking such as listening to music, dancing, talking on the phone, shopping, or hanging out with friends.
Chewing tobacco is less harmful than cigarettes. Many young people tend to believe this extremely untrue myth. Young people believe that this type of tobacco is less harmful because the chewer is not inhaling and smoke. While in reality, chewers are more likely to develop the different types of cancers, such as throat, mouth, and lung cancer. The American Journal of Public Health states, "The primary agents of concern in smoked tobacco are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nicotine, and N-nitroso compounds, along with smaller amounts of polonium, radon, arsenic, and cadmium" (David).
Smoking is cheap. The average amount of money spend on cigarettes each year is roughly $1,600.00.
