Elearn Week (Article 1) - Smoking

According to the article, “Spain had an anti-smoking law since January 2006 but the impact was barely noticeable.” Despite having implemented this law, numerous smokers still continue to indulge in smoking. This is evident with an estimate of 50,000 smoking related deaths each year in Spain. Why is this so?

One main reason is because of the addictive nicotine in cigarettes. Nicotine allows one to experience “temporary feelings of pleasure (‘high’ or ‘upper’) followed by withdrawal symptoms like irritability and agitation (‘downer’) and in the early stages of nicotine use, this prompts the user to administer another dose in order to experience the ‘upper’ again. Once addiction sets in, a user will often crave a regular dose of the substance in order to allay the ‘downer’ symptoms.” Hence, some people are obsessed with smoking and find it hard to kick the habit.

Another reason is due to peer pressure. This is a very common reason as to why teens smoke. A teenager would normally conformed to peer pressure easily as most of his/her time would be spent in school and he/she would not want to be ostracized or teased for being “not cool” or “chicken”. Just where do people get the idea that smoking is cool?

“We are all exposed to tobacco advertisements and promotions. In advertisements, tobacco users are portrayed as glamorous, popular, independent, adventurous, and macho. Thus, many people would like to give it a try.”

But if we really care to abolish the smoking habit, then why there are still cigarette advertising? If smoking is really harmful to our health, we should not endorse it to increase its awareness. It is ironic for the government to create awareness of the ill effects of smoking while embracing cigarette advertisements. Members of the public, especially the young generation would be confuse and do not know which is the real truth.

The Spain government has taken stronger actions to further emphasize the harmful effects of smoking. The new law implemented “bans smoking in all enclosed public spaces, including bars, restaurants and nightclubs and makes it illegal to smoke in children's parks or anywhere on school or hospital grounds.” I feel that this is a good start to improve the country’s environment. Those 50 000 smoking related deaths each year in Spain does not mean 50 000 smokers died. It may be those innocent second-hand smokers.

Now, it is not depriving smokers of smoking but to spare a thought to the innocent people around them. Hence, I agree with the Spain government’s actions. Hopefully, the situation would improve better and there would be a decrease in the smoking related death rates in Spain.  

Credits:

(News Source)

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20110102/tts-spain-health-smoking-tobacco-law-509a08e.html, 2 Jan 11

http://www.healthhype.com/nicotine-addiction-effects-toxicity-poisoning.html

http://www.nccs.com.sg/kac/diet/whySmoke.htm

Done By: Kwek Wan Ling
Admin Number: 103503L