Today’s World No Tobacco Day
May 31, 2009 by Liz Lewis
Filed under Announcements, Prevention, Smoking
Bad for your health and bad for the environment.
But for some reason that doesn’t seem to deter the one billion or so people around the world who smoke.
Governments have tried to encourage smoker’s to stop with ‘quit smoking’ programs. Many countries and cities have banned smoking from inside public buildings. But unfortunately that has resulted in increased cigarette litter outside the same buildings that ban smoking.
So what to do? The World Health Organization has designated today World No Tobacco Day and are focusing on health warnings on tobacco product packaging as a way of encouraging smokers to quit.
But does it work? Or do dedicated smokers wear blinders that give them tunnel vision and stop them from seeing the graphic and often disturbing pictures that now are strategically placed on the front and sides of cigarette packs ?
Smokers, what do you think?
Are these graphic photos effective or a waste of money?
The images are a waste of money, and completely counterproductive. I’ve seen the samples. Every time I see one, I want to light up. Call it self-destructive, but it’s true. The images stress me. Thus, I want to smoke. I’m also a rebel, which is probably what led me to start in the first place. The images aggravate my rebellious nature, which makes me want to light up. The trouble is that all the well-intentioned “lecturing” from public health experts and annoying (however well-intentioned) non-smokers didn’t do a thing but inspire me to dig in longer. The desire to quit has to come from inside the smoker. Nothing else can substitute for one’s own desire. As a rebel, I reject your reality and substitute my own. *wink*
Probably the most effective thing that has been done to curb smoking lately is the excessive taxation. I know a lot of people have quit, if only until they can find another way to support their tobacco habit. (I have a neighbor who is growing his own now in his backyard.) In a way, that one strikes at the rebellious heart of the smoker. Consider it a tax revolt. Still, excessive taxation has its weaknesses. Others have simply dug in their heels and switched to cheaper cigarettes. (Yeah, that’s a good outcome.) And again, it increases hostility, which isn’t helping anyone.
Regardless of all the holier-than-thou messaging about tobacco these days (like we don’t all pay for other peoples’ vices all the time), I’m in my 9th week without the cancer sticks. At this moment, I’m having a terrible craving. It’s probably all the carping on smokers that’s sending me round the bend. (I won’t smoke. I’ll just chew another piece of Nicorette until I get hiccups.)
For an excellent example of carping, when I was smoking, I was not one to toss my cigarette butts on the ground. I would extinguish them on the sole of my shoe and place the butts in my pocket. The blanket criticism of smokers is undeserved, and only makes rebellious types more frustrated (which encourages them to light up). Perhaps the problem is that so many buildings not only banned smoking, but removed the outdoor recepticles for the cigarette litter. Do we really expect to not have trash problems if we take away the trashcans? It’s a passive aggressive move that is most likely being returned in kind, imho. A nice way to promote civility, don’t ya think?
It really irritates me that people have become so intolerant of one another. Cigarette smoking is a bad thing. It’s a bad habit and/or addiction that hurts everyone in the long run. It’s no different than alcoholism, drug addiction, gambling addiction, food addiction…oh wait! There is a difference. Alcoholics, drug addicts, and gamblers are treated with far more understanding and civility than smokers these days. Yet, if we really added up the cost in lives destroyed, healthcare costs, law enforcement/violent crime costs, traffic accidents, free needles, condoms, counseling, and social services like foodstamps, foster care, and battered women’s shelters…and just basic chaos in the world…hmmm…I think we could afford a little more civility toward smokers. For all their faults, most smokers do tend to feed, clothe, and care for their children. They tend to be law abiding citizens in my experience, who buy their tobacco through legal channels. They tend to work to support their habit, and they seldom cross the dividing line on the interstate, taking the lives of promising young athletes or entire families in one sudden fell swoop.
I’m not trying to excuse smokers from their real responsibility for making sure others don’t suffer for their habit, but let’s have some perspective. Mmmkay? Smokers are not THE EVOL they are being made out to be of late.
To be blunt, holier than though doesn’t sell. Villification doesn’t sell. Scare tactics? We’ve had enough, thanks. Get out of the bully pulpit and start communicating if you want to make a difference. At the risk of getting personal, my reason for quitting is better, longer-lasting sex. Now, sex sells. It’s a rule. Maybe the WHO ought to pursue that line of communication. How many smokers might try to quit if they realize they’ll have better circulation and more sensitivity in that area if they stop smoking. Heaven knows all those multi-color pills for ED are selling like hotcakes since they’ve been advertising them on television. How about some humorous PSAs destined for pop culture greatness that detail some of the lesser known, id pleasing benefits of smoking cessation? Hmm??? Who doesn’t remember some of the PSAs from the 70s and 80s that became a part of our identities when we were younger? They just don’t make ‘em like they used to. That’s for sure.