n many countries, this warning is directly printed on cigarette packs – sometimes it is even accompanied by a horrifying picture of a sick person. And yet, this still does not stop smokers from poisoning themselves daily.

Incredible… incomprehensible ?

No. Scientists are capable of completely explaining the addiction of smokers and the mechanism provoking this addiction. It is not a random effect, but rather the result of a specific chemical cocktail added to the tobacco in each cigarette… not to mention the social aspects which are also relevant.

It is important to understand that cigarette manufacturers offer a real trap to smokers by adding literally thousands of products to cigaretts, on the one hand, «to facilitate » and make the act of smoking more attractive (reduction of the coughing reflex, taste, etc) and, on the other hand, by creating dependence against which smokers will struggle, until they are finally able to give up smoking.

In fact, many smokers will never be able to do so and will instead shorten their life span with each day, as the cigarette once again indicates the appropriateness of the epithet « nail in the coffin ».
 

What does a cigarette contain ?

A number of substances, starting with nicotine, the rapid and powerful effect upon the brain of which is one of the main causes of addiction among smokers. Tobacco is the plant with the highest concentration of nicotine, an alkaloid stimulant of the nervous system.

And yet, the cigarette contains a number of other poisons (to give some indication, a high dose of nicotine is fatal), such as ammonia which has the double benefit – from the perspective of cigarette manufacturers- of the suppression of coughing while cigarette smoke passes through the lungs, in addition to enhancing the effect of nicotine on the brain, as well as cyanhydric, arsenic, butane, cyanide, chromium, DDT and even radioactive substances such as lead 210 and polonium 210.

The cigarette smoke which is inhaled and passes through the lungs contains over 4000 chemical substances – 4000 – of which over 50 are known carcinogens. (Remember, the definition of carcinogen : any substance directly involved in the promotion of cancer).

As such, CyberDodo and his team really wonder why it is that all of these substances contained in each cigarette are not indicated on cigarette packs, including a warning of their extreme dangerousness and their effects on the body  !

As you know, CyberDodo has the goal of spreading the message of respect and conservation – the Convention on the Rights of the Child must be applied everywhere and for all (particularly as related hereto, Articles 6 and 24). How, then, is it possible that children who do not smoke see their health adversely affected by cigarettes ?

It is because it is not necessary to actually puff on a cigarette in order to smoke ! The simple act of being in the same room as a smoker makes a passive smoker of that person, all the more if it is a child, who can develop a number of diseases, particularly respiratory, as well as more long-term illnesses linked to tobacco addiction, including cardiovascular afflictions, cancers, et.

Passive smokers should also know that the smoke of a cigarette burning slowly between someone’s fingers, or resting in an ashtray is even more toxic than cigarette smoke which is inhaled and exhaled by the smoker because it is produced at a lower temperature.

An unborn child is also at risk of being the victim of cigarettes if his or her Mother smokes. There are numerous examples : miscarriage and premature birth, intrauterine growth retardation, increased risk of deformities, fetal death in utero, etc.

Social aspect : « I smoke, therefore I am ! »

For many youth, smoking is a social act which – they believe- increases their status in the eyes of their peers and boosts their self-confidence, of which they are lacking. This notion is reinforced by countless media sources (movies, t.v. series, singers, concerts, parties, etc) which are in turn « encouraged » by the tobacco industry. Said industry earns fortunes thanks to the promulgation of this image !

If children (Remember, according to the Convention, all humans under 18 years of age is a child) were conscious of the ravages cigarettes can cause to their body, it is certain that they would never begin smoking, even « to look cool » in the eyes of their buddies.

What do cigarettes cost our communities?

The notion of solidarity between the members of a given community (family, city, country, continent, etc) is critical and often represents the sole source of hope for the improvement of the situation of the most destitute among us. However, this solidarity must be stretched as far as possible, in particular between developing countries and the world’s richest countries, given that poverty is one of the main causes of the majority of tragedies suffered by children.

There are many different types of costs incurred because of the scourge of cigarettes, only including the financial one. More and more voices are being heard asking whether it is actually acceptable to make communities support the great cost of addictions, given that it is no longer possible for anyone to ignore the great danger cigarettes pose to the health of smokers. Indeed, these citizens look to the expensive medical treatments which can only be necessary given the seriousness of afflictions involved with smoking.

There is also the human cost, of course, as it is generally estimated that around 100 million people have died because of cigarettes during the 20th century. Horrifying projections go as far as to indicate 500 million to 1 billion deaths for the 21st century !

If we can agree upon the inviolability of the freedom of all to choose the destiny of their life, we can also agree that it is simply not acceptable for this pandemic to continue to spread !

Articles 6 and 24 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child notably discuss the Rights to Life and Health. The place of cigarettes in society should be defined in light of these Rights – and scrupulously so !

To see the cartoon on the subject, click here

To see the quiz, click here

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© CyberDodo Productions Ltd