Hutchison 1
Bridgitt Hutchison
Dr. Kastner
English
November 14, 2013
A Killing Addiction
Smoking cigarettes is the “most important source of preventable morbidity and premature
mortality” worldwide. (American Lung Association). Even though cigarettes cause such things
like diseases, illnesses, and deaths, people continue to smoke them. Some people may argue that
cigarettes are a very beneficial factor to short-term health, but it is simply not worth the longterm effects that can occur to one’s body. Smoking cigarettes can lead to damaging effects such
as health risks, appearance, and second-hand smoke. These effects are the main reasons why
smoking cigarettes should be illegal.
When it comes to smoking cigarettes, many debates happen as to whether a person
should smoke them or not. A study done at the University of Pennsylvania regarding cigarette
smoke found that “the negative effects of smoking are certainly reversible” and that the nicotine
in the cigarettes “has a positive effect on short-term memory.”(Ritzman). The results for the
study that cigarettes help a person’s short-term memory show that “smoking cigarettes shortens
response time.”(Ritzman). This is a credible appeal that can draw one to start smoking cigarettes
because if a person sees that the health risks for smoking can be reversible, then people will
continue to smoke. Many case studies, such as this one, try to prove that smoking cigarettes can
reduce the risk of getting a small thing like a rare skin disease. In cases like these, the evidence
that is provided is not enough to make cigarettes worthy or smoking every day.
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The effects of smoking are tremendously dangerous and can harm your body in many
different ways. As a result of smoking, a person can contract cancer. The types of cancer a
person can get by smoking cigarettes are lung, mouth, bladder, and more; however, lung cancer
is the most common form of cancer due to cigarette smoke. Smoking cigarettes have caused
about “ninety percent of lung cancer cases” which have all led to deaths. (American Lung
Association). Another major disease that is contracted by smoking is chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease. This disease affects the lungs, which makes it very hard to breathe. Out of all
the people that are continuous smokers, around “seventy three percent” end up having a chronic
lung disease. (American Lung Association). If a case of a chronic lung disease is serious enough,
it can be fatal. When an outcome becomes fatal for a person, something needs to be done;
therefore, smoking cigarettes should be illegal.
Another major health risk as to why smoking should be illegal is smoking cigarettes
while being pregnant. Smoking can affect a mother’s baby in various ways. One way is the
“placenta can be separated from the uterus wall early,” which is how a fetus gains oxygen and
nourishment. (Aydogan). This not only can put the baby at risk, but it can also put the mother at
risk with a chance of death. Another effect that can occur while being pregnant due to smoking is
premature birth. As a result of premature birth, the baby is at high risks of death or complications
“including cerebral palsy and mental retardation.” (Aydogan). Some more common effects that
can happen due to smoking cigarettes are “low birth weight, heart rate, and respiratory
problems.” (Aydogan). These effects are just some of the outcomes that can occur due to
cigarette smoking before and/or while being pregnant, and a logical reason why smoking
cigarettes should be made illegal.
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While smoking cigarettes is a major health risks and gives many people cancer every day,
it also makes a person appearance be frowned upon and very unappealing. One of the most
noticeable effects is “tooth discoloration, which can lead to tooth loss.” (American Lung
Association). This discoloration can also occur on people who smoke nails. Due to smoking,
one’s hair can become very thin. This can lead to the “formation of bald spots.” (American Lung
Association). There are also effects such as “skin aging, bad breath, and muscle growth can be
impaired.” (American Lung Association). One severe side effect due to excessive smoking is
“hormone levels.” Hormones secreted in the endocrine gland can become “unbalanced” which
causes a person to become “apple” shaped. In today’s society, a person’s appearance is based on
his or hers first impression, therefore people who smoke cigarettes will be judged very badly,
making this another reason why cigarettes should be banned.
The last reason as to why cigarettes should be illegal is the hazard of second-hand smoke.
While people who smoke cigarettes may realize that they are damaging their health, they may
not realize that they are damaging others who they smoke around. A person can obtain lung
cancer without even putting a cigarette in their mouth because of second-hand smoke. Secondhand smoke is responsible for “3,400 lung cancer deaths” in non-smokers in the United States.
(American Lung Association). Although most of the situations where non-smokers get lung
cancer are adults, this does not mean that it cannot affect children or even babies. If a pregnant
female is exposed to cigarette smoke, her baby can be exposed to it also, meaning that it has the
“chance to get Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.” Less serious, but still very acknowledgeable
effects that may happen to children who are exposed are “asthma, bronchitis, and pneumonia.”
Second-hand smoke is the biggest reason as to why smoking cigarettes should be illegal
everywhere. Second-hand smoke is harming people, of all ages, who do not wish to smoke.
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All in all, smoking cigarettes may be beneficial to some, but the bad outweighs the good
a lot in this situation. When a person is harming themselves, and others, something should be
done. Cigarettes should be made illegal world-wide because of the costly effects like major
health risks, appearances, and secondhand smoke.
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Works Cited
Ritzman, Kurt. The Triangle. College Publisher, November 18, 2005. Web. 14 Nov. 2013.
Aydogan, Umit, et al. "Effects Of Smoking During Pregnancy On DNA Damage And ROS
Level Consequences In Maternal And Newborns' Blood." Archives Of Industrial Hygiene
& Toxicology / Arhiv Za Higijenu Rada I Toksikologiju 64.1 (2013): 35-46. Sportdiscus
with Full Text. Web. 14 Nov. 2013.
Ward, M. ( 1,2 ), et al. "The Efficacy Of Different Models Of Smoke-Free Laws In Reducing
Exposure To Second-Hand Smoke: A Multi-Country Comparison." Health Policy 110.23 (2013): 207-213. Scopus®. Web. 14 Nov. 2013.
American Lung Association. Convio, June 2011. Web. 14 Nov. 2013.