Addictions
When growing up it’s normal to be curious about new things – especially if it seems like everyone else including your best friends are trying them out too! Cigarettes, drugs, Sheesha or alcohol can all seem like really cool and grown-up things to do. The Media plays an important role in influencing all of us – just look around and see how most of these are portrayed in movies and ads. The risk you will smoke, drink, get drunk and use illegal drugs increases sharply if you are stressed, frequently bored or have substantial amounts of spending money. What starts as a small experiment out of curiosity, or to look hip, soon becomes a habit. It is important to have as much information as possible to make healthy choices.You may want to ask why you should quit, when Smoking makes you feel and look so hip and awesome.
Till the recent bans imposed on smoking at almost all public places,bustops,under the bridge, cigarette advertisements did really make it seem very attractive to smoke.
But the fact is smoking kills! It can cause cancer, chronic lung diseases and heart disease. It can shorten your life span by 14 years, and adversely affect the people who care about you.
It is an addiction and anyone who is addicted to something needs help.
Our body is smart and it goes on the defense when it’s being poisoned, which is why many people find it takes several attempts to get to start smoking.
For example, first-time smokers often feel pain or burning in the throat and lungs, and some people feel sick or even throw up the first few times they try it. First time drinkers also feel nauseous and may throw up.
Tobacco companies spend millions of dollars in advertising campaigns geared towards planting stylish images in our heads that smoking is a really cool thing to do. They have a profit to make out of our addiction! I know a girl Otibhor 17 who is addicted already, claims she got influenced by mere advert. So even if you don’t feel influenced by your friends, be careful of these clever advertising campaigns aimed at making you think its so cool to try out all these things.
What is the story on Nicotine? How does it affect my body?
The tobacco in cigarettes contains nicotine. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance like heroin and cocaine. Your body and mind become dependant on it and need it frequently just to make you feel good. There are no physical reasons to start smoking - the body doesn’t need nicotine the way it needs food, water, sleep, and exercise. In fact, chemicals like nicotine and cyanide are actually poisons that can kill if consumed in high doses.The consequence of this poisoning happens gradually over time. Diseases like cancer, emphysema, organ damage and heart disease will limit a person’s ability to be normally active - and can be fatal. Each time a smoker lights up, that single cigarette takes about 5 to 20 minutes off the person’s life. Smoking also affects a man’s fertility and male smokers can experience a serious impact on their sexual health. Smoking is extremely harmful for women who are trying to conceive or are pregnant. The risk of breast cancer also shoots up for women who smoke. Only if these women can listen and adhere to this.
Why do people start smoking?
It could be because of Peer Pressure, or a desire to feel like an adult. Or perhaps someone in the family smoked and you wanted to try and see how it looked and felt.Most people who start out young never really expect to get addicted, which is why it is so much easier not to start smoking at all. I think this is the case of Otibhor.
3 comments:
Lovely write up.
Smoking is indeed a slow killer.
Best not to start dan trying to stop.
This is a fact. Good write up
Addicted since 17 and i drink. However this may sound i am not ready to stop smoking maybe drinking. i care not . i am aged already .
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