Smoking is cool. After having read through a few copies of Cigar Aficionado, I'm thoroughly convinced of this. Kevin Costner adorns this month's cover, and if that isn't a firm declaration of the desirability of smoking, I don't know what would be a better one.
Therefore, this Thursday the 16th, the date of the Great American Smoke-Out, it doesn't surprise me that the number of Americans who quit will be dwarfed by those who will continue to smoke.
And that's a shame.
Although I concede that Kevin Costner has a lot of sway, there's no better time for college students to quit than now, while we're still young. Students who quit now can live the rest of their lives with life expectancies only slightly lower than those who have never picked up a cigarette or a cigar. Not everyone who smokes dies, but by quitting students can become 10 to 20 times less likely to develop lung cancer. Now is the time to act and also to convince friends that they can make a difference at this early stage in their lives.
Let me briefly make some points, although I know that most of us have had them hammered into our heads since our 8th grade health classes. Smoking is responsible for one out of five deaths in the United States. And these aren't all peaceful, quiet deaths by the elderly living in rest homes; some of these are horrendous, painful deaths lived by men and women snatched out of what should be the prime of their lives. Smoking is extremely expensive. Smoking one pack a day annually usually costs more than $1,000. Finally, smoking is disgusting. Living with my mother's smoking habit for 12 years before she quit convinced me that yellow teeth, constant coughing and bad breath are hardly desirable traits.
Of course, some people feel that these arguments aren't enough.
Some view smoking as an acceptable hobby that's been demonized by a health-crazed society obsessed with calories, exercise and dietary supplements. Although I'm writing this editorial, I've never been a fanatic regarding my health. I've thrown a few sneers in the direction of people entering the Student Recreation Center who appear to be slightly overzealous about Tae-Bo, their rowing machine or their shapely abs. I've also from time to time overindulged my healthy respect for the slightly artery-clogging food to be found at Bojangle's.
However, when it comes to smoking, it's clear that a little overindulgence can first be addictive - and then deadly.
So, this week, Carolina Cancer Focus will be in the Pit Tuesday through Thursday for the Great American Smoke-Out. Smokers who come by and sign the pledge to quit for the day of the Smoke-Out will receive a packet with tips on how to quit, coupons for Nicorette gum, information on how to join a cessation class sponsored by the Center for Healthy Student Behaviors and also a free stress ball to help them get through their day of privation.
