Smoking cigarettes is by far the main contributor to lung cancer. Cigarette smoke contains over 60 known carcinogens. The time a person smokes, as well as the rate of smoking, increases the person’s chance of developing lung cancer. If a person stops smoking, this chance steadily decreases as damage to the lungs is repaired and cancer causing agents are gradually removed. Tobacco companies are not responsible for what people do in their free time they are simply making a product that people like and making money in the meantime.
By the mid-1980’s crack cocaine had permeated cities across the United States, and because of the price and the availability it appealed largely to poor and disenfranchised people (Falck, Wang, & Carlson, 2007). Crack cocaine is a crystallized form of the drug cocaine that is typically smoked (Vaughn, Fu, Perron, Bohnert, & Howard, 2010). In 2005, more than a quarter-million people in the United States between the ages of twelve and forty-nine years old smoked crack cocaine for the first time, and this was an increase in substance users from 2004 (Falck et al., 2007). Today, crack cocaine is a stimulant drug with euphorigenic and reinforcing properties that has become a staple in America’s street drug pharmacopeia, according to nearly eight million people that have confessed to being a user most of their life (Falck et al., 2007). Frankly, smoked crack cocaine has high abuse and dependence liabilities which is equal to the injection of cocaine HCI, but many users who have experienced both methods of administration rated the high associated with smoking greater, and liked it better, than the one produced by injection (Falck et al., 2007).
Lung cancer, bronchitis, and heart diseases are all effects of smoking tobacco. Smoking tobacco can also cause changes in mood and rotting of the teeth. These effects are especially bad the younger the smoker, as it can very easily stunt or damage children’s development. Use of tobacco by teenagers is increasing each year. As stated by The American Lung Association, nearly 6,000 children under the age 18 start smoking, and about 2,000 will become regular smokers.
Community Project Homeless Services Resource Manual Cynthia Patterson Homelessness in America is a pervasive problem that is experienced at all levels of society. It is estimated that “at least 2.3 million adults and children, or nearly 1 percent of the U.S. population, are likely to experience a spell of homelessness at least once during a year,” (Brown & Shukla, 2000, para. 1) The National Alliance to End Homelessness (2007b) lists “poverty, lack of affordable housing, poor access to support networks, and personal characteristics” as the most common predictors of homelessness. Our country’s current economic and housing crisis is increasing the threat of homelessness for thousands of individuals and families, especially
| |crash rates. |Alcohol related crashes have been the leading cause of death for young Americans, from 16-24 years old. | | |Accidents by alcohol impaired driver are the most frequently committed violent crime in the U.S. today. | | |Drunk driving will impact 1 in 3 people. | | |[pic] | | | | | |The HBD crash rate for 16-year-old drivers is 1.8 times higher than drivers of all ages.
Thirteen million people over the age of twelve have tried one of the most addicting substances known to man at least once. Out of those thirteen million 529,000 of them became regular users the United States government reported in 2008. This addictive substance is methamphetamine or meth for short. This stimulant can boost mood, increase feelings of well being, and increase energy and alertness, however it has some very dangerous side effect, which include but are not limited to high blood pressure, accelerated heart rate, and even death. Meth is considered one of the greatest drug threats to our nation with its affects costing anywhere between $16.2 and $48.3 billion dollars a year according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Smoking is the primary causal factor for at least 30% of all cancer deaths, for nearly 80% of deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and for early cardiovascular disease and deaths (Adhikari B., PhD, J Kahende, PhD, A Malarcher, PhD, T Pechacek, PhD, V Tong 1). World wide smoking is the number one most preventable cause of death. Nearly 430,000 Americans annually die from smoking-related illnesses. I am a smoker, and understand the effects of chemical dependence. Chemical dependence comes in many forms.
Before I talk about the direct policy on smoking, I thought I would share some facts about tobacco. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among both men and women in the United States. Smoking-related deaths/health issues effect an estimated four hundred and thirty eight thousand American lives each year. Ninety percent of lung cancer deaths among men and eighty percent of lung cancer deaths among women are attributed to smoking. People who smoke are up to six times more likely to suffer a heart attack than nonsmokers, and the risk increases with the number of cigarettes smoked.
Marijuana can have dras-tic effects on the American culture medically and economically. Being outlawed in most of the states, it has since been falsely accused with having many negative side-effects... almost none being scientifically proven. It causes a knowledgeable person to wonder why marijuana is kept prohibited, while harmful substances such as alcohol and tobacco are kept legal and supported by the government. Around 50,000 people die each year from alcohol poisoning. Similarly, more than 400,000 deaths each year are attributed to tobacco smoking.
In the US, tobacco is the single most remunerative business in existence. Large tobacco industries as well as smaller businesses would be affected by the ban, and farmers of the plant would find themselves at loss of jobs. Unemployment is already a major issue in today’s society, and this ban would cause its rates to rocket. Tobacco is also a prominent player in the trade industry; countries such as LEDCs that rely on its trade (amongst that of other products) for their economy would find themselves at great loss. However, it could be argued that since tobacco lowers life expectancy and causes diseases, tobacco costs considerably more than it should to the taxpayer.