It is estimated that around 37.8 million people in the United States, which accounts for about 15% of the population, are smokers.
There are several reasons for the ban on a frequently used item. One primary reason is that cigarettes, which are a powerful teratogen and can harm the developing fetus, are easily available to pregnant women. Additionally, smoking in the presence of newborns has adverse effects. Therefore, cigarettes pose a threat to both adults and infants.
Implementing a ban on smoking cigarettes is essential because of the severe health risks and potential fatality linked to their use. However, pregnant women persist in smoking cigarettes, disregarding the fact that they contain nicotine, an addictive substance.
It can be difficult for a pregnant woman who has been smoking for years to quit. Pregnancy-related changes in her body and in
...creased hormone levels can lead to higher stress levels. Although some women are aware of the dangers smoking poses to their baby, they continue because it calms them and they are addicted. The physical changes they experience make them more likely to give in to their addiction. Additionally, pregnant women have easy access to cigarettes as they are widely available at gas stations and grocery stores.
If the sale of cigarettes were banned, people would no longer have the convenience of buying a pack from their local gas station. This would also make it harder for individuals who want to start smoking and become addicted. On the other hand, pregnant women who don't smoke are less likely to start smoking than those who are already dependent. Smoking cigarettes while pregnant can lead to many harmful consequences.
Smoking cigarettes while pregnant can lead to
several adverse effects, such as an elevated risk of miscarriage, which is a heartbreaking ordeal for expectant mothers. Furthermore, smoking may cause infants to have reduced birth weight or be born prematurely. Moreover, it can also contribute to respiratory issues in newborns.
Smoking while pregnant can cause a range of birth defects such as cleft lip, club foot, heart abnormalities, and facial deformities. It can also result in infants having underdeveloped or absent limbs. Moreover, it heightens the likelihood of babies having their intestines outside the body or a blocked/closed anus. The most concerning issue is the elevated risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) for babies exposed to cigarette smoke during gestation. No parent desires their newborn to suffer from this tragic outcome.
Bret Stoddard-3 Despite the knowledge of the harmful consequences, individuals persist in smoking. In 1881, James Bonsack revolutionized cigarette production by introducing the initial cigarette machine. This innovation greatly expedited the mass manufacturing of cigarettes. Nonetheless, it wasn't until 1964 when the surgeon general of the United States heightened public consciousness regarding smoking hazards. Unfortunately, at that point, it was already too late because billions of cigarettes were being produced yearly and millions had already become addicted to smoking.
Despite the awareness of smoking risks for over 50 years, people still choose to engage in this harmful behavior. This is partly because teenagers perceive smoking as fashionable and succumb to peer pressure, making it a popular trend among them. Consequently, many young individuals adopt this unhealthy practice. However, once someone starts smoking, quitting becomes difficult.
Although smoking can induce a stimulating surge of adrenaline in the brain, resulting in pleasure and increased energy levels, it
is important to recognize the considerable dangers linked with this practice. In addition to providing temporary relaxation and satisfaction, smoking presents immediate and serious long-term health risks for individuals. Furthermore, it also adversely affects others by exposing them to second-hand smoke.
The effects of smoking cigarettes can differ based on an individual's weight, height, and size. Initial symptoms may include nausea, headache, coughing, dizziness, and decreased appetite. However, the long-term outcomes are more serious and potentially deadly. These include dental discoloration, tooth decay, increased risk of stroke and brain damage, various types of cancer, and other harmful side effects.
The utilization of the product entails significant negative consequences that far exceed any potential benefits. While some argue that it could adversely impact the economy and jeopardize numerous jobs in the cigarette industry, this is countered by the alarming statistic that cigarette-related deaths claim the lives of 480,000 individuals annually in the United States alone. Sacrificing thousands of lives for a marginal economic boost is simply not justified. Furthermore, those employed in this sector have the option to seek alternative employment opportunities and still support themselves.
Why is a product that is so harmful still legal? The reason is because it generates employment opportunities and increases revenue. The average person does not benefit from the sale of cigarettes. It is the high-ranking executives of cigarette companies and the government who profit from taxing tobacco products. No amount of money is worth sacrificing a single life, whether for the government's coffers or the already wealthy tobacco business owners. Moreover, smoking cigarettes has detrimental effects on the environment. The smoke released from burning cigarettes pollutes the air, while people carelessly discard
their cigarette butts and filters on the ground or in the ocean instead of disposing of them properly.
This results in small animals consuming and becoming asphyxiated by cigarette butts, which affects various species such as birds, rabbits, and sea turtles. Additionally, the cultivation of tobacco for cigarettes involves the destruction of forests through burning, leading to pollution and rendering the land unusable. Moreover, cigarettes pose a significant risk of causing fires.
Using lighters or matches is the usual way to ignite a cigarette, but if not handled correctly, these flames can pose serious dangers. Improperly discarding lit cigarettes can lead to fires and cause extensive damage to buildings. Moreover, many fatalities linked to smoking arise when people doze off with a burning cigarette in their hand, causing accidental fires that can destroy homes.
To prevent smoke inhalation and death caused by the rapid spread of fire and abundant smoke, it is important to prohibit access to cigarettes. Cigarettes pose a major risk for accidental fires that put innocent lives in danger. By enforcing this ban, we can ensure that firefighters and paramedics don't waste their time dealing with unnecessary destruction of homes or apartment complexes. The potential number of lives saved each year from implementing a cigarette ban could be in the thousands. It should be noted, however, that despite the prohibition, there may still be individuals who obtain cigarettes illegally, similar to illicit drugs. Nevertheless, there would still be a significant decrease in the number of smokers.
The act of smoking is hazardous for both pregnant women and individuals exposed to second-hand smoke. Additionally, the lasting effects of smoking have a significant impact on people's overall well-being
throughout their lifespan.
While smoking cigarettes may offer employment opportunities, its detrimental effects on the environment and wildlife, along with the significant fire hazard it poses, endanger human lives. The negative repercussions of these benefits outweigh the fatalities they contribute to.
