Smoking in today’s world is much different then what it used to be. The thoughts of smoking have changed from good to bad. Many people believe that smoking is beneficial for their everyday lives while others want nothing to do with it. In this paper I will be discussing the: the history of smoking, the advantages/benefits of smoking, the disadvantages/risks of smoking, the components of cigarettes, and the regulations regarding the production and sale of cigarettes.
“Tobacco is a plant that grows natively in North and South America. It is in the same family as the potato, pepper and the poisonous nightshade, a very deadly plant” (Randall, 1999, p. 1). American Indians used tobacco in many different ways, mainly for religious purposes and medical practices. The Indians used tobacco for medical practices because they believed it was a cure-all kind of medication; it was also used to dress wounds, and also used as a pain killer. When Christopher Columbus came to America in 1492 he was offered tobacco leaves as a gift from the American Indians. Once brought back to Europe tobacco was grown all over. The main reason why it became so popular is because of the supposed healing properties in it. It was believed that tobacco could cure anything from bad breath to cancer. In 1571 Nicolas Monardes, a Spanish doctor, claimed that tobacco could cure thirty-six health problems, he named all of them in his book about the history of medical plants of the new word. During the 1600s tobacco was so popular and used by many that it was frequently used as money. Also during this time frame Sir Francis Bacon started noticing the dangerous effects of smoking, he noted that trying to quit this habit was really hard. During the 1700s the tobacco indus...
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...otect Children and Adolescents. Tobacco Products. Retrieved on 31 March 2012 from,
http://www.fda.gov/TobaccoProducts/ProtectingKidsfromTobacco/RegsRestrictingSale/ucm204589.htm
Henningfield, J (2008). Tobacco: Through the Smoke Screen. Broomall, PA: Mason Creek Publishers
Phillip Morris USA (2012). Marlboro Menthol Box. Ingredients. Retrieved on 31 March 2012 from,
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Randall, V (1999). History of Tobacco. Boston University MedicalCenter. Retrieved on 31 March 2012
From, http://academic.udayton.edu/health/syllabi/tobacco/history.htm
Russo, J (2011). Health Benefits of Smoking Tobacco. Health and Wellness. Retrieved on 31 March 2012
From, http://www.sott.net/articles/show/221013-Health-Benefits-of-Smoking-Tobacco
Tobacco did not just appear in colonial America. The tobacco plant was introduced by John Rolfe to the people of Jamestown (Nobleman 12). John Rolfe also taught the colonists how to farm tobacco (Tunis 77). Though tobacco cultivation seemed to be flourishing, consumers were still getting their tobacco from the Spanish Indies, as the Spanish Indies grew milder tobacco than America (Weeks 1). This motivated John Rolfe to sail to the Spanish Indies and confiscate some of their tobacco seeds ("The Growth of the Tobacco " 2). The tobacco from the Spanish Indies boosted the economic growth of colonial America (2). However, John Rolfe was not the first person to have tobacco in the new world. The Native Americans were the first people to cultivate and smoke tobacco and taught their trade to the Spanish (1). The ...
...g the 1600's, tobacco was so popular that it was even used as money. Over time it was finally realized that the use of tobacco was addictive and more hazardous to ones health than beneficial.
According to Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (2013), smoking is harmful for almost each organ and causes many dis...
To summerize, the discovery of tobacco in the Americas had lasting effects on the world. Across Europe, many began smoking because of the belief that tobacco was able to cure certain ailments. Also, tobacco became a symbol of high class so we see that many middle class people began to smoke. The demand in Europe for tobacco became very high causing the production of tobacco in the Americas to increase. Colonies were set up containing large plantations with many slaves to produce tobacco. Tobacco production made the producers very rich as the cash crop was very desirable. From the use of tobacco in ceremonies for the Aztecs and Mayans to the mass production of the crop in the Americas, tobacco created much change across the world.
Slade, John, “The Tobacco Epidemic: Lessons from History.” University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. 1989.
The harmful carcinogens in cigarettes cause about 480,000 deaths each year. These amounts of casualties seem to me as a serious problem, which needs to be addressed and reduced immediately. Cigarettes are known to have a variety of chemicals inside of them ranging from acetone to tar. The chemicals inside of cigarettes have been directly linked to cancer related effects. Due to the poisonous effects and numerous complications involved with cigarettes, they should be made illegal to sell and consume within the United States. Although there are thousands of reasons why cigarettes should be illegal, in this argumentative essay I will closely examine three. The effects of carcinogens, stress of addiction and death prevention are the three main reasons why cigarettes should be illegal.
There is clearly no way tobacco will never be outlawed but I believe there should be tighter restrictions on age limits throughout the world, and restrictions on the materials that are used in cigarette processing. Who is just letting cigarette companies continue to poison people and cause cancer risk? Throughout my essay I will analyze the affects of cigarette use on the society of the world and the elaborate corruption that keeps cigarette companies in business.
When smokers quit-what are the benefits over time. (2014, Februrary 6). American Cancer Society. Retrieved from www.cancer.org
Even though smoking cigarettes can lead to death and consider very bad for someone’s health, people all over the world do it every day. No matter how many cautions cigarette companies place on cigarettes packs, people still smoke. There have been a lot of debate about the consequences of smoking cigarettes, as well as many studies have been done, showing the awful results of smoking on people’s physical condition. Despite all the consequences that smoking cigarettes can create on one’s health, people cannot seem to be able to stay away from them. At every gas station, almost everywhere people go, many advertisements try to influence people to smoke and make smoking looks cool. However, the smoke from cigarettes has life threatening chemicals in them which trigger to severe effects on people’s healthiness. Smoking can damage nearly every organ of the body and also causes nearly one of every five deaths in the United States each year.
Smoking cigarettes is a detrimental practice not only to the smoker, but also to everyone around the smoker. According to an article from the American Lung Association, “Health Effects” (n.d.), “Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., causing over 438,000 deaths per year”. The umbrella term for tobacco use includes the use of cigarettes, cigars, e-cigs and chewing tobacco. While tobacco causes adverse health consequences, it also has been a unifying factor for change in public health. While the tobacco industries targets specific populations, public health specifically targets smokers, possible smokers, and the public to influence cessation, policies and education.
Every year cigarette smoking is responsible for 500,000 premature deaths (Nugel), you do not want to be just another statistic, do you? America’s first cash crop was tobacco. That means that tobacco has been around for a really long time. It was not until 1865, though, that cigarettes were sold commercially. They were sold to soldiers at the end of the Civil War (Dowshen). From then, cigarettes spread like wildfire, and it was not until 1964 that anyone made a stand about the negative effects of tobacco and cigarettes. People start smoking for all different reasons, some to fit in and some to “escape”. Regardless, it is a horrible habit. 3900 children will try their first cigarette today. Amongst adults who currently smoke, 68% of them began at age 18 or younger, and 85% at 21 or younger (American Lung Association). And of all those people, 70% say if they were given another chance they would never have picked up that first cigarette (Tobacco Free Maine). Smoking is responsible for 1 and 5 deaths in the united states, and is the number one preventable cause of death (NLH). Smoking burns and there is no doubt about that, but before one picks up that cigarette, understand the negative effects on not only oneself, but others affected by ones poor choices, like second-hand smoke. Because of smoking cigarettes, many types of cancer, decrease of life quality, and negative health effects have become all too common in the world today.
The author’s purpose in this essay is to show how smoking can be beneficial in some ways. Brimelow presents his credibility with studies from the International Journal of Epidemiology, New England Journal of Medicine, and Journal of the American Medical Association (Brimelow 142). He notes that smoking can both calm and stimulate people. Smoking has been shown to calm people while driving if they take long puffs. Smoking has also been shown to stimulate if taken in quick, short puffs. Brimelow reiterates this by telling us that “Current understanding is that nicotine is ‘amphoteric’ –that is, it can act to counter both conditions, depending on how it is consumed” (142). This is a reason how smoking can be beneficial.
Although it is beneficial for the economy for the production of tobacco products it is extremely risky to use the product. According to researchers second-hand smoke is terrible for everyone in the world who walk by someone who is exhaling. In the article by Robert Proctor “Why ban the sale of cigarettes? The case for abolition” he states that cigarettes are the “most deadl...
“Dangers of Smoking Cigarettes for Smokers” healthliteracy.worlded.org. Copyright 1995 by Marjorie Jacobs revised 1997, n.d web 14 April 2011
Consequently, tobacco which contains many harmful chemicals damages human beings’ health day by day. Although people are aware of the bad effects of smoking, they still smoke for one reason or another. When the current situation is considered, it is clear that smoking which has been spreading all over the world is not only the problem of a country or a territory but the problem of mankind because smoking brings many disadvantages for humans like diseases. I personally believe that it is important to help children remain lifelong non-smokers because they are our hope for a non-smoking future.