Smoking England: Marijuana and Tobacco - Essay Example

Marijuana and Tobacco There have been contentious issues raised concerning use of marijuana and tobacco whose relationship began sometimes back. Both drugs are believed to cause several diseases including lung cancer and bronchitis although most of the claims are not yet proved. Tobacco and marijuana are the most consumed drugs in the world amongst consumers of different ages and sex. Tobacco and marijuana are believed to share similar respiratory impact especially heavy users. Apart from health problems, smoking also affects the economy of the countries since there are several great hardworking citizens who regularly lost their lives due to smoking. Most governments in the world set big budgets to fight smoking habits instead of using the funds in other sectors that can improve the general lifestyles of their citizens. This paper analyses the relationship between marijuana and tobacco as well as their respective effects on human health. Smoking marijuana and tobacco have almost similar effects and characteristics in terms of their usage and consequences. The majority of smokers begin smoking at teenage and the addiction intensifies when they become adults and at this stage, it becomes very difficult to quit the habit (Williams and Williams 327). People smoke for different reasons such as the need for adolescent to look mature, peer influence and finally to try out. The fact that most old people such as parents and relatives smoke lures the children also to smoke so that they can also look mature. Children may at times be involved in smoking if they see their friends and their peers smoke perhaps to be accepted. People have the tendency of experimenting prohibited things so that they can actually find out the reason for it being outlawed. Parents and the government normally prohibit smoking among children hence making the children sneak away and smoke (Malmberg et al. 1512-1520). It is however interesting to note that grown-ups smoke for some reasons different from the children such as relieving them from stress and pressures due to economic or personal problems. Adults feel that smoking make them feel relaxed or boost their energy as they undergo difficulties such as family burdens or relationship challenges. Adolescent stage is the right age of ascertaining whether a child will be a heavy smoker or not by paying much attention on their behaviors (Williams and Williams 327). Smoking vs. Demography Marital status according to the HSCIC plays a significant role in smoking where most smokers are reported to be divorced, separated, or unmarried. However, single people are not likely to be chain smokers as it is in the case of the separated and the divorced individuals who take most of their time smoking due to frustrations. The married people are said to be less likely to smoke compared to the unmarried and widowed individuals (HSCIC 11-12). Smoking Vs. Socioeconomic It is fascinating that the degree of smoking also depends on socioeconomic class where the people in the manual and routine groups were found to comprise of heavy smokers compared to people in the management and specialized groups. Most people in the higher socioeconomic class smoke cigars with filters especially women unlike the other people in the lower class who smoke rolled cigars. Perhaps, some of the reasons that compelled the lower socioeconomic group to smoke are the fact that most of them face different economic problems such as taking full responsibility of their families by fully providing for their food, better school for their children and better healthcare for their families (HSCIC 11-12). Smoking has created a wide gap between the people who are socioeconomically stable and the people in the lower ladder of socioeconomic rank especially in the area of life expectancy. Most people in the lower socioeconomic status are attacked by cancer related illness compared to the other partners who are in the upper side of the socioeconomic status (Malmberg et al. 1512-1521). It is apparent that marijuana and tobacco smoking both contain harmful chemicals that get into the body system when inhaled thus exposing smokers’ lungs to greater risks of developing major diseases. Some of the relationship between smoking tobacco and marijuana such as the people who had previously smoked marijuana would smoke tobacco and that current marijuana smokers are current cigarette smokers (Williams and Williams 327). Moreover, onset of tobacco use may provide a gateway to future marijuana use and that nicotine dependence may develop if tobacco and marijuana are used simultaneously. Smoking either tobacco or marijuana alone is not as risky as smoking both that implies polydrug use. Nicotine is found in both the drugs and their combination increases exposure to tar and other carcinogens that in turn increases the range of health problems such as respiratory tract infections, bronchitis and lung cancer (Malmberg et al. 1512-1520). Tobacco users usually feel that their addiction is not as harmful as using illegal drugs such as marijuana while marijuana smokers feel that their drug of choice is safer than tobacco. In general, both drugs have side effects because both users suffer compound consequences (Malmberg et al. 1512-1520). Both tobacco and marijuana smoking are most commonly abused drugs although there has been increased awareness of the mortality and illness related to smoking. Society considers smokers of the two drugs as health concern and addiction related with marijuana. In addition, both drugs are used widely across the world starting from teens. However, marijuana use enhances lung-air-flow rates and an increase in lung capacity while tobacco users increase lung related diseases (HSCIC 11-12). It is apparent that tobacco and marijuana have different consumption and consumers’ consumption differs (Malmberg et al. 1512-1525). Large number of smokers smokes both marijuana and tobacco though users perceive marijuana more positive than tobacco even though it is regarded unusual, detrimental, and addictive. Although the public health message has been very clear regarding the dangers of tobacco and marijuana, few users are ready to give up and marijuana consumption through illegal means seems normalized (Williams and Williams 327). Government, parents and health professionals’ attempts to stop consumption of the two drugs has been in vain. Despite the addiction to tobacco and marijuana that consumers are aware off, they have been too reluctant to stop the consumption of the dangerous drugs. Works Cited HSCIC. Statistics on Smoking-England, 2012 NS. Pp. 1-12. Web. 15 Mar. 2014. http://www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB07019 Malmberg, Monique, et al. "Do Substance use Risk Personality Dimensions Predict the Onset of Substance use in Early Adolescence? A Variable- and Person-Centered Approach." Journal of Youth and Adolescence 41.11 (2012): 1512-25. ProQuest. Web. 15 Mar. 2014. Williams, Ronald D., and Amber R. Williams. "Creative Writing in Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Education." Contemporary Issues in Education Research (Online) 5.4 (2012): 327. ProQuest. Web. 15 Mar. 2014. Read More