The tobacco industry has worked hard for decades to downplay the negative effects of its products, especially cigarettes. While certain ads are banned as per the federal government’s policies, that doesn’t stop tobacco companies from finding ways to appeal to young audiences and make cigarettes seem trendy and sexy.
Due to the continued efforts of the tobacco industry, certain myths have come about surrounding smoking. Luckily for us, organizations like Truth Initiative exist to combat such myths and exposed the tobacco for what it is. Here, we’ll cover some of the most common myths about smoking so you can see for yourself just how harmful this habit really is.
1. Second-Hand Smoke Isn’t Dangerous
You’ve probably heard this one before, most likely from a smoker. This is a dangerous myth that has claimed the lives of thousands already. Second-hand smoke is dangerous, and is so dangerous, in fact, that many public places have completely banned smoking altogether. Smoking is nothing less than a public health hazard, as second-hand smoke pollutes the air around the smoker and exposes non-smokers to over 7,000 chemicals.
Similar illnesses in smokers have been discovered in those exposed to second-hand smoke, and children are especially vulnerable. Second-hand smoke can seriously compromise a child’s respiratory and immune systems, leaving them more vulnerable to respiratory infections and complications like asthma and the common cold.
Often, children are exposed to second-hand smoke in the home they live in because mom, dad, or another relative is a smoker. This is even worse because smoking indoors amplifies the effects of the smoke and allows no escape route for it; effectively poisoning the very air inside the home. Yes, second-hand smoke is dangerous, and yes, you can develop lung cancer, heart disease, and other smoke-related complications from it.
2. Light Smoking Is Ok
Social smokers will usually say something along the lines of “It’s ok, I only do it every once in a while. Nothing happens from that.” The truth is, even light smoking can be dangerous. When it comes to tobacco, there’s danger in any dose. This is because of the number of chemicals, toxins, heavy metals, and actual poisons that are present in tobacco products.
Why, then, do we allow the tobacco industry to continue selling their products? The chemicals, toxins, and heavy metals come from the pesticides and fertilizers used in tobacco growing, and from chemicals used in the curing process. Let’s just say the tobacco companies have lobbied for decades to stay in business, putting money in the right pockets to protect their interests.
Smoking is harmful. Even just one cigarette can damage your lungs and heart, and immediately cause your blood pressure to rise.
3. Smoking Doesn’t Pollute The Environment
Tobacco companies would have us believe that they’re earth-conscious, responsible caretakers, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Tobacco growth and cultivation, along with the curing and packaging process, are responsible for deforestation (millions of acres annually), toxic waste, pollution of airways and waterways, and devastation of entire ecosystems.
Did you know that cigarette filters (butts) are the world’s most littered item? Beaches, streets, walkways, forests, and waterways are littered with cigarette butts tossed aside by careless smokers. Smoking doesn’t affect the environment? That’s another myth busted.
4. You Can Recover From Smoking Easily
One of the favorite tactics of big tobacco is to downplay the addictive properties of cigarettes. It’s no secret that smoking is addictive, and tobacco products are required to have warning labels, but you’ll hear the myth that you can easily recover from smoking. Just quit, right?
Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. Millions of people attempt to quit every year, but only a small percentage ever manage it. Why? Because nicotine is one of the top five most addictive substances in the world, and the tobacco industry has engineered its tobacco to contain at least twice as much nicotine.
Even with products like tobacco free dip and CBD oil available to help with addiction, quitting is no easy feat. Most smokers end up needing help to leave the habit behind for good. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help, of course, but there’s something morally wrong about making a product even more addictive to protect profit margins.
5. One Cigarette Won’t Get You Hooked
Have you ever been offered a cigarette followed by the phrase “One won’t get you addicted, just try it”? This is a myth that’s been around for decades, but it’s just that—a myth. The nicotine content in cigarettes is enough to make your body want more after just one cigarette. In fact, most smokers started with “just one” and came back to the habit at a later time. Nicotine immediately affects specific receptors in the brain, and once they get a “taste”, they want more.
It’s best to avoid cigarettes altogether. They’re nothing but a personal, financial, and public health liability, and big tobacco is among the foremost polluters of the environment on a global scale. Need I say more?
