I spend the majority of my life in a haze. Literally.
Both my parents were chain smokers. My brother smokes. My sisters smoke. My grandfather smokes. My aunt has emphysema from smoking. I dated men who smoked. Even I am guilty of the occasional drag of nicotine.
Smoking is one of the most common, and easily accessible, form of recreational drug use. Many different cultures across the globe have been partaking in the practice since early 5000 B.C.E.
There is a plentitude of risks from smoking. Cancers such as lung, mouth, pancreas, colon, rectal, stomach and cervix have been attributed to smoking. Chronic illnesses such as stroke, dental and gum diseases, aortic rupture, pneumonia, asthma, lung disease, and reduced fertility have been reported as caused and/or exacerbated by smoking.
And what, exactly, is in a cigarette? The American Lung Association lists the following:
Acetone – found in nail polish remover
Acetic Acid – an ingredient in hair dye
Ammonia – a common household cleaner
Arsenic – used in rat poison
Benzene – found in rubber cement
Butane – used in lighter fluid
Cadmium – active component in battery acid
Carbon Monoxide – released in car exhaust fumes
Formaldehyde – embalming fluid
Hexamine – found in barbecue lighter fluid
Lead – used in batteries
Napthalene – an ingredient in moth balls
Methanol – a main component in rocket fuel
Nicotine – used as insecticide
Tar – material for paving roads
Toluene – used to manufacture paint
Smoking is the #1 cause of preventable death in the United States, responsible for over 393,000 deaths a year. So what motivates people to inhale a substance that can shave 10 years off their lives, induce life-threatening and painful illnesses in what is basically a form of slow suicide?
Everyone has a vice – a means of escaping daily stress. You may not surprised to hear that the Centers for Disease Control conducted a survey directly correlating mental illness and smoking: “People with mental illness are 70 percent more likely to smoke cigarettes than people without mental illness, two federal health agencies reported Tuesday.1” As a form of self-medication, cigarettes may be harder to kick than alcohol or prescription medications. “Many people with mental illness are at greater risk of dying early from smoking than of dying from their mental health conditions,” said Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control1.
In my opinion, smoking is the least of our worries when it comes to mental illness in our country.
Do you smoke or know someone who does and is interested in quitting? Help is available. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW, visit www.smokefree.gov, or speak to your health professional today.
1. People With Mental Illness More Likely to Be Smokers, Study Finds
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/06/health/more-smoking-found-by-mentally-ill-people.html?_r=0
Published: February 5, 2013
Listen to the podcast from the CDC here: http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/media/mp3/VS_Smoking_2-13_PSA_60.mp3
Pictures courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control: www.cdc.gov
Atoms & Empty Space: Your 'Shatter the Stigma' Database 
Oh yeah, more brainwashing, propaganda and pseudoscience from big brother designed to make all smokers the new evil subclass lol
People need to really wake up to this programming and brainwashing. Remember our own attny general told us we were BRAINWASHED about smoking and needed to be brain washed about guns.
And.. before the morality police kick in, no I dont smoke, its not about smoking, its about how the government uses junk science to “nudge” ala Cass Sunstein into a direction they want the sheeple to go.
Hi, Penga Penga. Thanks for stopping by and commenting =)
You bring up good points. I do believe that the government tends to try to sway our thinking in one direction over the other – but with cigarettes raking in such lucrative money via taxes one does have to stop and think if the government would profit from “making all smokers the new evil subclass.” They’d lose millions of dollars a year. And like any government, it all boils down to money, money, money.
I wouldn’t call this study “junk science” so much as I would say it was a total waste of government funds. It have been very throughly ( and scientifically!) proven since its discovery that nicotine releases endorphins, or “pleasure molecules”, which in turn act on the pleasure center of the brain in much the same way antidepressants, a cheeseburger, watching tv, etc, does. Even just the act of doing something with your hands by holding a cigarette can ease some anxieties by giving the person something to do.
I don’t think the cigarette smoking – mental illness correlation has to do with making someone look evil. At least mental illness is getting some publicity these days.. and any publicity is good publicity.
Do you know how the centers for disease control pick out what to research? or would you know if they’ve done a study on specifically alzheimers and smokers?
No, I’m not sure… but I’ll definately check it out for you
smh just 1 more reason y i dont date smokers
informative article; it be interesting to see if weed has any correlation in 20 years as it becomes more and more legal.
good point especially since imo its not the cigarette or whats in it, its more like doing something with your hands and oral fascination
i couldn’t agree with you more!
Just another reason to give up smoking. I was looking for an extra kick in the a$$, hee heee.
Sooooooo r dey sayin mental illness causes ppl 2 smoke or wha?
incredibly awesome; although what the CDC wastes its money on is a little sad.
thanks for sharing! saw this on google news but didn’t really read til now; love your snark
i have 2 say… this is completely on point. i was diagnosed with major depressive disorder after my second child, and i gave up drinking right when i found out i was preggo. after i had my son, i was in such a funk. i went to the doctor that delivered my child and he said i had post-pardum depression. idk why but i started smoking again soon after. it def calmed my nerves altho i know its bad for me and my family. i just dont know what else to do. don’t wanna take pills around my kids, you know?
great post
daaammmnnnn man. What CAN we do nowadays that isnt attributed to some brain thing?
i really like your style. smart and to the point. its great – CK
I’m not a smoker, but I still think this is a nice post!
time 2 kick sum BUTT!