Smoking Essay, Research Paper

Introduction

Thesis Statement

1st Subject

(non-smokers behavior)

In today’s society, three out of five Americans are addicted to smoking cigarettes. In other words, every individual in America is either a smoker or has a friend or relative who smokes. The tobacco industry is one of America’s largest growing industries. There are many smokers and non-smokers in the world and just the same there are many differences and similarities between the two. From being treated different publicly to being looked at differently in terms of health, both smokers and non-smokers have their pros and cons.

Just as smokers attend social events so do non-smokers. A few examples of the social events attended are: bars, clubs, concerts, restaurants, bowling alleys, etc? Smoking is allowed at most of these events. Whether or not you are a smoker, you will endure a cloud of smoke or come home with the faint scent of smoke on your clothes at one time or another. From personal experience, I arrived at the fact that not only spending a minimum of five minutes in a smoking building-

(smokers behavior)

2nd Subject

(Smokers Behavior)

simply walking in and out produced the faint scent of smoke on my clothes. Nonetheless, the close vicinity of restaurants segregate smokers from non-smokers. Both smokers and non-smokers see this as difficult. For instance, if you had to attend a meeting for work at a restaurant. You might end up as a non-smoker sitting next to someone puffing away or feeling uncomfortable as a smoker sitting next to someone who condemns cigarette smoke. Even though both are at a disadvantage some smokers feel as if they are being punished by having to sit on opposite sides of the building.

In comparison, both smokers and non-smokers have to deal with stress. While living in this money-crazed and fast paced society, we will all get stressed out at one point. A full-blown smoker must deal with the stress of addiction. Addiction comes with an array of problems such as: money, health, family, etc? A non-smoker living with a smoker also has to deal with these problems. Whether it is that they are worried about the health of the individual or worried about the individual

(Non-smokers Behavior)

3rd Subject

(Non-smokers Behavior)

(Smokers Behavior)

spending too much money buying cigarettes. Unlike smokers, non-smokers do not stress out about situations such as not getting a smoke break at work, how many cigarettes they have left, or why cigarette prices have sky-rocketed. Non-smokers also do not have to deal with the burden of quitting.

In the same way, both smokers and

non-smokers have to deal with health problems due to cigarette smoke. Second hand smoke is as jeopardizing to ones health as first hand smoke is. The reason for this is because carbon monoxide from inside the cigarette is inhaled. The sad part of all of this is smokers usually do not realize how deadly the toxins are that they are exhaling into the atmosphere. On the one hand, non-smokers have health problems due to second hand smoke; on the other hand smokers have a greater variety of health problems. Even though smokers and non-smokers are at a health risk, smokers are the most at risk of the two. “By the mid 1960’s, research had linked cigarette smoking to several major health problems, including bronchitis, emphysema, heart disease,

Conclusion

and cancer of the mouth, throat, and lungs” (Thompson and Hickey). Around this time people coined the term, “cancer sticks”. Smoking over a long period of time causes many changes in appearance such as yellow teeth, wrinkles, and yellow fingernails. Smoking also results in bad hygiene such as deteriorating gums and bad breath.

On a personal level, I would much rather live a smoke-free, long, and healthy life. For the people who chose to live the life of a smoker I encourage them to try and quit as soon as possible. Health problems, stress, and addiction are only a few of the many everyday trials that we all must endure. Though there were many differences between smokers and non-smokers there were also many similarities that I found. Both have their pros and cons, differences in social treatment, and health concerns.

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