Smoking in Public Should Be Banned - Assignment Example

Smoking in Public Should be Banned Introduction Cigarette is a product of tobacco, which widely used as a drug across the world. Smoking tobacco posses risk to both the primary and secondary smokers. Despite knowing its effect most, people still find themselves smoking. Most countries have fought the battle of smoking in public and many more are still up to do so. Primary smokers, also referred to as firsthand smokers, are those who directly smoke cigarettes. Secondary smokers or second-hand smokers, on the other hand, are those who inhale the smoke that come from the former. Several health effects befall those who directly or indirectly inhale smoke. Most people smoke in public areas unaware of the health problems they are posing to the people around them. The Opposing View There are several effects associated with smoking. First off, cigarette smoke has such as carcinogens and nicotine that are harmful to the health of any given individual. Research indicate that exposure to cigarette smoke for as little as half an hour a day alleviates the chances of a non-smoker having a heart attack in the long run. The danger is even higher for those who are already vulnerable to coronary problems such as older men over the age of forty, obese persons, and people who have diabetes (both type one and type two) as well as those already having high blood pressure ("CDC - Fact Sheet - Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking - Smoking & Tobacco Use"). Nicotine makes the one get addicted to cigarette smoking. This addiction is hard to beat because it has been proven to change brain. The brain has been shown to develop extra receptors to accommodate large doses of nicotine from smoke. Once a person gets used to smoke they have the feeling to have more and more and cessation of smoking results to withdrawal. The symptoms include anxiety, feeling irritated, and having strong cravings for cigarettes (Benowitz 1908). One should therefore consider not altering their brains and that of those around them by simply smoking yet they know the consequences it has in their health. Research also indicates that about one hundred million Americans have conditions like asthma and bronchitis that make them more susceptible to the fumes from smoke ("CDC - Fact Sheet - Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking - Smoking & Tobacco Use"). Young children are also sensitive to cigarette smoke. Cigarette smoking also causes hearing loss. This it does through reducing the oxygen supply to the ear. This may result into mild hearing loss. It also causes visual problems that are associated with blindness and impaired night vision. Nicotine from tobacco affects the production of the necessary chemicals that allow the eye to see at night. Additionally, smoking also elevates the risk of an individual developing muscular degeneration and cataracts that can lead to permanent blindness. The smokers always have teeth cavities and tarnished teeth that usually make their mouths smell awful. Since the smoke also directly interacts with the tissues in the mouth it can raise the chances of the smoker developing oral problems such as mouth ulcers and sores as well as gingivitis and other gum diseases. Worst of all is that the carcinogens in the cigarette smoke may impact the life of the second-hand smokers, who can develop throat, colon, and lung cancer. The impact is however greater on first-hand smokers compared to the secondary smokers. Some researchers have argued that an average puff of smoke stays in someone’s system for about five to ten years and this reduces the life of any individual that comes in contact with it (Benowitz 1907). Smoking also has effect on the smokers face and hands that loose elasticity leading to wrinkles and even at its worst stretch marks. The tone of the skin of a smoker is hazy and grayish in color. The wrinkles can extend to the mouth eyes making the face of the smoker unappealing. It is not ethical to smoke to the point of getting wrinkles. The mother of all social problems after alcohol is smoke ("18 Ways Smoking Affects Your Health | Smokefree.gov"). Families have been broken due to addiction that has effect on little resources the family have. Once a smoker gets sick they are not able to provide and the family spends a lot on them. Erectile dysfunction has made most marriages break since a partner cannot satisfy another’s conjugal rights ("Three Reasons Why Smoking Should Be Banned |"). Tobacco also affects the respiratory system in various ways. Firstly, it causes cancer of the lungs. Cancer as a disease is very hard to cure and remains threat to mankind and a center of research for modern medicine. Secondly, smoking also causes asthma. On the same note persons already having asthma, risks suffering from spasms, when exposed to the fumes from cigarette smoking that usually contain irritants that affect the asthmatic individuals who are usually very sensitive. Thirdly, it also causes bronchitis that inflames the bronchioles. This exposes the smokers both secondary and primary to shortness of breath; apnea, that can easily cause death ("18 Ways Smoking Affects Your Health | Smokefree.gov"). Pregnant and expectant mothers when exposed to smoke will have miscarriages or even give birth to underweight babies. Such babies always have lung problems at that very tender age and risk dying. While this is not an impact as such to everyone it is a concern to the future generations as well as the government whose statistics will be indicating high mortality rate. When attribute to smoking, the argument worries a lot because it is something that can be stopped ("18 Ways Smoking Affects Your Health | Smokefree.gov"). My Personal View Just like other disorderly behaviors that have been banned from the public, smoking too should be banned in public places. The reason is very clear. I believe there are numerous health problems as discussed earlier. Secondly, the social-cultural pillars of the society are affected because the children who are growing up will have the knowledge of how to smoke and will continue with the act of impunity that will affect the lives of those who are around them. Ethically, this is not right ("CDC - Fact Sheet - Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking - Smoking & Tobacco Use"). I think people should live in a society that is characterized by morality and founded on ethical values. The children are the future generation and having them spoilt at the tender age jeopardizes the future generation that is bound to take the country to a higher level than it is. It is also not logical to permit adults who are aware of the dangers that the act they are supporting poses to the public to smoke publicly. Therefore, it is essential for the legislators and those concerned to come up with stringent rules that will put smokers away from the public arenas. Additionally, the public spaces should be clean and free from hazardous chemicals. Smoking alone introduces chemicals that have a lot of effects to the life of the individuals who get in contact with it. Far from the health hazards, when a person is forced unwillingly to breathe the tobacco smoke, they get irritated ("New Page 1."). This irritation causes discomfort and makes life difficult for others. The public comprises of old age people, parents, children and the youth all who have equal chances of being exposed to smoke. The smoke from cigarette has chemicals that do not discriminate along age in having effects in health. The public places will look dirty because of the cigarette butts that are of higher percentage in the total litter that is recovered from public places such as beaches, parks, public toilets, stadia, and sidewalks among others. The discarded cigarettes that are usually common in the public places may cause fires when they fall on inflammable substances, risking the life of people. Children who are not discriminative in what they pick and eat might end up ingesting the butts from the public places like sandy beaches and walking paths. This then makes them exposed to carcinogens and other chemicals that are trapped in the butts ("Three Reasons Why Smoking Should Be Banned |"). Birds may also nibble the butts and end up dying. This in a way can be seen as an effect to wildlife. A common Ground Far from individuals who are of the opinion the smoking in public places be legalized, the act should be banned. However, they have their own view as to how smoking is advantageous they still overlook the effects it has to the general public. Of course this does not include private places like homes and smoking zones. The public places should be secure for both the sick and the healthy individuals. Since it is very impossible for the people to distinguish between polluted air and clean air the only wise move is to make the smokers do their smoking off public places. The cost of cleaning the towns and other public places is high and the government spends a lot of revenue on this. Banning smoking in public places will reduce the expenditure as well as improve the beauty of public places ("Three Reasons Why Smoking Should Be Banned |"). Compromise Smoking in public places should therefore be banned completely regardless to the public in question. The health of individuals who are smokers as well as those that are not willing to smoke is equally affected. Those already having lung problems have the higher chance of being affected by smoke that is in the public places. Therefore, laws banning smoking in public places will benefit many people including the future generations. Every reason explained above explains why smoking in public places should be banned. The advantages of legalizing smoking in public areas are less compared to the effects it has to the people who comprise the public. Therefore, banning smoking in public areas will have more advantages to both individuals who smoke and those around them. Works Cited "18 Ways Smoking Affects Your Health | Smokefree.gov." N.p., Web. . Benowitz, Neal L. "Chronic disease management approach to treating tobacco addiction: comment on “nicotine therapy sampling to induce quit attempts among smokers unmotivated to quit”." Archives of internal medicine 171.21 (2011): 1907-1909. "CDC - Fact Sheet - Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking - Smoking & Tobacco Use." N.p., Web. . "Health Effects of Smoking | Be Tobacco Free.gov." N.p., Web. . "New Page 1." N.p., Web. . "Three Reasons Why Smoking Should Be Banned |." N.p., Web. . Read More