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IT USED TO BE COOL:
If you grew up in the 50's and 60's, smoking was considered fashionable and even allowed in hospital wards. If
you were a patient, the nurses placed ashtrays on the beside table and emptied them for you! How things have
changed!! When you booked a seat on an plane you were asked if you wanted 'smoking' or 'non-smoking', you could smoke in
bars and restaurants. Smoking was the 'norm'. Everybody smoked! No wonder these people are finding it so difficult to
quit! They have grown up thinking smoking was 'cool' and normal, and their children followed suit.
Gradually, we have been made aware of the terrible consequences of smoking. It has taken many years for this
information to impact on public awareness. The effects of smoking were starting to be known from as early as the late
1700's, but no-one really took much notice until late in the twentieth century when the Surgeon Generals of several countries began
publicly issuing health warnings about the dangers of smoking.
We are now experiencing a world wide campaign to stop
smoking. Television advertising has brought the campaign into every living room, warning us, encouraging us to
give up, constantly reminding us of how deadly smoking is. Schools educate our children on the dangers of smoking. Governments
have forced tobacco companies to put explicit, graphic photos and warnings on every product. Smokers can't miss the message - it
is everywhere. In some countries, ALL forms of advertising for tobacco products has been banned. It is a
difficult issue for health authorities and governments to tackle given the history of smoking, but rest assured, the future of
smoking is bleak.
The main thrust of such an invasive campaign, of course, is to deter our youth from ever starting the smoking
habit. Let's face it, if you never start, you never have to go through the pain, anxiety and expense of deteriorating health or
trying to quit! Just like any other drug habit, if you don't try it you won't get hooked.
Statistics are showing that the number of smokers is declining, but millions of people are still smoking. Young
people are taking up smoking despite the warnings and current smokers have difficulties giving up. It is a
problem that will take a lot of time and effort to eradicate, and probably won't ever completely disappear. As with other
drugs, if we outlaw smoking and ban the sale of tobacco products altogether, then history tells us that it will surely become an
underground black market industry.
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