Tobacco Road

Seniors seldom if ever take up smoking although it has been known to happen. For those who do, some are former smokers who resumed smoking after a few months or years of quitting. Just how many smokers there are in the world was unknown to me until I read the October, 2006 issue of National Geographic. Hopefully your tempting senior moment is not to take up tobacco in any form.

In a sobering one-page article titled Tobacco Planet, the use of tobacco around the globe was delineated. Yes, it is sobering. Here are some of the findings:

• This year 5.5 trillion cigarettes—more than 15 billion a day will be sold (based on 94% of sales worldwide.
• Almost a billion men smoke, 50% of men in developing countries; 250,000 women worldwide smoke.
• Five million persons will die due to tobacco-related illnesses.
• In five countries there are more women who smoke than men.
• In spite of numerous legal [and medical] challenges to the tobacco industry, smoking is increasing, especially in developing countries.
• The more wealthy countries will see the highest declines.
• Female students age 13-15 who smoke is 6.7% globally but in the U.S. it is 17.5%; male students globally age 13-15 is 10.5% but the highest ratio is 20% in Europe.

What can we say? The tobacco industry is big, powerful and armed with a product that addicts indiscriminately. With profits diminishing in the more wealthy countries, the thrust is to addict those who can least afford it, financially and health-wise. A pity but true. For those of you who seriously have tried quitting, sometimes many times, you know how tough it is. Ironically, a prolonged use of tobacco is not necessary for addiction.

Now let’s turn to a major university and its findings. Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of disease and death. Smoking only 1-4 cigarettes a day can have serious health consequences. The six largest tobacco companies spent $11.2 billion dollars on advertising and promoting their products in 2001 [$5.6 billion in 1997]. On average, men who smoke shorten their lives by 13.2 years and women smokers by 14.5 years. Tobacco is a causative factor in different diseases including many forms of cancer, stroke, heart disease and chronic emphysema to name a few. Finally, second-hand smoke has been named a Group A carcinogen because it contains 40 of the chemicals known to cause cancer.

Is there any hope? Some, but not much. Quitting has both immediate as well as long-term positive effects. Filters and lowering tar do not help much nor does reducing the number of smokes (helps some but not much). Eliminating the nicotine would go a long way in reducing addiction but does not account for the many other debilitating chemicals. Never starting of course is the best hope. And there is a gamble involved as there are those who do outlive any major ill effects. Finally, if we seniors would make this a positive senior moment by doing our best to discourage our granddads and their friends from taking up the habit, we would be doing everyone (except the tobacco industry) a favor. Make that a huge favor.