Community Chat

[deepwaterdotter]

As a non-smoker with a family member who does smoke, I trust that the government is trying to raise awareness to the dangers of nicotine addiction.  However, like any addiction,  it is extremely difficult to overcome.

[jeanlake]

A powerful addiction. Bloodstream craves it and it's a physical thing with hands, mouth, etc. Parents were heavy smokers who both cut their lives short so siblings and I wanted no part of the smell, financial and life-threatening costs.

A couple of nieces and a nephew smokes. One is a nurse. In their 30s now, they say they'll stop when the stress lets up. Job, relationships, finances, raising children. I hope and pray they stop before age 40. The stress doesn't let up, does it?

Their grandfather (my dad) died at age 76. His brothers and dad who never smoked died in mid 90s. Their grandmother (my mom) and her smoker brother died early of cancer and heart disease. Her older and younger sisters, who never smoked, are alive and well - almost 80 and almost 100 years old now. I'm sure every family has these stories that we need to keep telling the younger generation.

Maybe family stories and making it inconvenient to smoke will help more than words on labels from big business. (Pharma, insurance and tobacco industries -- few respect what they have to say)         

[NAES1]

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@SeaMaiden wrote:

Why not? Perhaps if I saw those images it might have made me quit sooner....whatever it takes to let people ( especially young people) know how bad smoking is.

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                   @SeaMaiden ,

       I am so glad that you 'did' give that habit completely up, and I agree 'YES' - 'whatever it takes'

 I do not remember Yul Brenner, but being very young, in my early teens, I remembered John Wayne pleading everyone to stop, though. He gave it his best attempt.

   My best middle school -to- high school best buddy girlfriend around the age of fourteen had the entire house to ourselves one summer.

Her father did smoke, leaving a package of cigarettes by his living room table, so she really wanted to try one, saying,

            I'll go first, and she did.

   She is now severely ill, and has been for over 18 years- .... has COPD, emphysema, along with a host of many health issues. All associated with smoking.This would be in another state, so I have not actually seen her for five years, but I do call her `` for the holidays``. 

  Her father died recently from lung and colon cancer.

      I touched one, rolled it around in my fingers and she lit it. Just from breathing the smoke, I vomited. 

  I remembered running home and my grandmother said:

                    ---------I was the shade of green.

I never once smoked or drank.

   {{{{   I am so very thankful I became so ill.  }}}}

    "I never was a follower all through school, and still to this day I have maintained that...not doing what others do, or want.

     I always was my own person and certainly knew my identity"!   I GREW UP!

  Congratulations for you, ~~ being so intelligent.

  AND! I do understand it is not only filthy, buy very addictive-and- expensive.

  What I have seen as a medical professional is something I hope no one ever has to stand and witness anyone struggling to breathe, as I have and do.

ps: "my younger sister does smoke, and there is absolutely no convincing her to stop, even though she tried one of the deterrents".

 I am very sad about this, knowing that she has severe copd.

     She quotes by saying,

''well, everyone is going to die of something".

  Do not be surprised if or when I come on and say she is very bad with her health or worse...........................

yes, I am angry. 

                                          NAES

[Shorty2U]

I think it will affect some smokers to quit yes, but not all. I also think they should put warnings on booze and more tax on booze like they do cigarettes. I quit smoking 11 years ago and agree its a bad habit (was the hardest thing I ever did, its very addicting). However I feel they pick on smokers (and rightfully so) but no one cares about booze and what it does to people and how it causes them to act. Like most cant stand being around smoking, I could never stand being around over drinkers!. (Plus my car was demolished by a drunk when I was 19 yrs old). 

[NAES1]

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@Shorty2U wrote:

I think it will affect some smokers to quit yes, but not all. I also think they should put warnings on booze and more tax on booze like they do cigarettes. I quit smoking 11 years ago and agree its a bad habit (was the hardest thing I ever did, its very addicting). However I feel they pick on smokers (and rightfully so) but no one cares about booze and what it does to people and how it causes them to act. Like most cant stand being around smoking, I could never stand being around over drinkers!. (Plus my car was demolished by a drunk when I was 19 yrs old). 

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             @Shorty2U - 

I Totally Agree. You are very correct!

[Bridgegal]

It might get some smokers to stop but I don't think it will stop young people from starting.   They think they are invincible and it won't hurt them although they know cigarettes are killers.  Smoking just won't kill them.

I've said for decades that the only warning that might stop young people from smoking is the vanity factor.   Put warnings that cigs will make them stink, have bad breath and wrinkle their skin.   That might stop some.  Might.

[LTT1]

@sidsmom 

@Bridgegal @NAES1 @Shorty2U @jeanlake 

Yes, I’m glad they are putting the warnings on the packs.

It is too bad the stars in movies are now being shown smoking again.

Anything that takes them”glamour” out of smoking may deter those (young) who may start up.

@lolakimono 

Hey, he’s wearing my favorite pants!

[SilleeMee]

At this point I'm more concerned about the vaping industry. Regulation of that is limited and many people, including many teens, think it's safe and cool...not hardly and it's far from that.