Cigarette Smoking

Study shows that tobacco is a "major health problem" in Southeast Asia. "Approximately 50 percent of males smoke and youths, especially girls, continue to take up smoking," experts from eight of the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members said. ASEAN consists of Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. In the Philippines, statistics shows that the Philippines rank high among nations with the most number of smokers. In 2003, the country ranked fifth in the world for adult male smokers aged 15 years and older and 26th in the numbers of female adult smokers and still increasing as time goes by (R. C. Lontayao, 2008).

On the other hand, almost 34% of the 46 million smokers identified in 1998 attempt to quit smoking each year. However, less than 10% of those 34% actually succeed (ACSH). This clearly shows that only few people quit smoking and majority of this people who plans to quit failed. Every year around 5.4 million deaths are caused by tobacco. In the Philippines, 20,000 Filipinos die from smoking-related illnesses each year (that's 2 every hour). Smoking is linked to 5 of the top 10 leading causes of deaths, according to Government data (Hawkins).

With this very scary death rates, why does people especially those teenager get addicted with smoking? I have interviewed people and asked them the reasons of why they smoke. One lad who really caught my attention is a friend of my roommate. He is 13 years old and an out of school youth. Cyril Paulma, commonly called Buddy to his friends once told me that he first indulged on smoking when he was just 11 years old.

“Purely for fun”, Buddy told me when asked why he was smoking. He also added that it was his friends who introduced it (cigarette) to him first. Fun. This same answer was very first reason why people smoke. According to Ernest Dichter smoking, for many of us, then, became a substitute for our early habit of following the whims of the moment; it becomes a legitimate excuse for interrupting work and snatching a moment of pleasure. Also, he says that other people look at smoking as a reward. A cigarette is a reward that we can give ourselves as often as we wish. When we have done anything well, for instance, we can congratulate ourselves with a cigarette, which certifies, in effect, that we have been "good boys." We can promise ourselves: "When I have finished this piece of work, when I have written the last page of my report, I'll deserve a little fun. I'll have a cigarette."

I asked Buddy if he has any plan of quitting smoking but he laughingly told me it’s difficult already. He added that the more he consumes a cigarette the greater is his drive to smoke more. This situation could be the problem of people who does smoking. They wanted to quit but had a hard time doing it.

Now, to remedy this kind of situation there are many approaches to stop smoking. One of these methods is using gum or eating skin patches with nicotine. The use of gum or skin patches containing nicotine has been one medical approach. When the patient stops smoking, it provides the replacement of nicotine into the body. The theory behind this approach is to gradually reduce the amount of nicotine replaced until none is provided. (M.S. Beitner). But I think the very first thing you will do to stop smoking practically is to start to yourself first. Try to weigh the consequences, the bad effects of the continuous usage or the good effects on it to your body when you quit.

Do not be ashamed to ask for support from your family, friends, and even public organizations. You can find a support group or a smoking cessation program through almost any hospital. If you have not succeeded once, do not become desperate. Remember that every attempt at stopping smoking increases your chances of success next time. Know that more than fifty million Americans have already quit this unhealthy habit. You always should give yourself credit for trying (Darlene Marlow).

Parents if any or friends could also help you minimize smoking. As what National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University wrote, parents are a child’s number one role model and have the most influence on their lives. Children may argue or seem to tune parents out, but they still look up to and listen to what they have to say.

Whatever way it maybe it depends upon you if you have the urged to stop. You wouldn’t like to acquire that cancerous thing I guess. So you should act now.