The Truth behind Tobacco

By Taylor Diephuis

Have you ever car-pooled with someone that smokes? Have you ever had to leave a room or certain area because the smoke of someone’s cigarette is bothering you? Have you ever lost a loved one from lung cancer? Well, I have. Now, I want you to tell me all the good things about cigarettes you can think of. Pretty hard isn’t it?

As a smoker, you don’t think about all of the harmful chemicals in cigarettes. You think about how they help you cope with the daily stress, how they help you when you’re angry, help you relax at the end of a long day, or when you’re sad and lonely. But truthfully, smoking does the opposite of about everything we give it credit for
When you inhale the chemicals from the cigarette, it puts your body into a state of stress by sending thousands of harmful chemicals into your bloodstream with every puff you take. Carcinogens (chemicals that cause cancer) are some of those chemicals. So, really every time you take these chemicals into your body you are increasing the rise of getting cancer!

You think smoking won’t hurt you? That it isn’t a big deal right? 5.4 million Deaths occur each year from smoking! From the slowly increasing percentage of smoking, it is predicted that by 2015 there will be 6.5 million deaths per year. Over 443,000 Americans die from smoking a year, and 50,000 of them die or suffer from lung cancer from second hand smoking. Meaning people who have never even touched a cigarette are paying the price because they consumed YOUR smoke. Think of all that time you’re taking off of your life and other’s because of this nasty habit.

Tobacco use, whether it is in cigarettes, chew, snuff, etc damages your health and sometimes others. So for your benefit, please take my opinion on the truth behind tobacco use and stop wasting your life away. Life is short enough as it is. Think of all the wonderful things you could accomplish with those extra years you’re granting yourself. Quit Today!

For more information on Tobacco or Quitting please contact the Van Buren County SAFE Coalition at 319-293-6412 or info@vbsafecoalition.com. Or find more information on the Coalitions website at www.vbsafecoalition.com. Taylor is a freshman at Harmony High School and a member of the Van Buren County Youth Leadership Council.