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Pick a Date “Butt” Head
My mother was recently on her first visit to Radford and wanted to see the campus. I suggested we walk the two blocks so we could get a better view. By the time we walked around campus, she was a little winded.   My mother has been smoking for about thirty years now, and as I remember she and dad were quite the chimneys. I used to hate it and would not even allow then to smoke in the car if I was in it. It made me sick, so much to their surprise; I also took up the habit when I was seventeen or eighteen. Unknowingly and unintentionally, I was twice as likely to develop the habit because my parents smoke (“Parents Smoke”). Becoming one the worlds 650 million smokers was not in the plan (Le Foll and George 1373). You’ve heard the line, “Everyone’s doing it!” Many of my friends were smoking as well. It seemed cool at the time, but dying early is not.
Health issues come to mind when I think of my long term tobacco use, not to mention really good reasons to quit. From the numerous chemicals, tar, and toxins, the dangers of tobacco use have been well documented; but the simple truth is, of those 650 million smokers worldwide, half “will eventually be killed by tobacco” (Le Foll and George). Sadly, young adults are smoking as much as older adults and are more likely to start smoking again after an attempt to quit (Curry et al. 1464). The numbers are staggering when it comes to tobacco related deaths. In America, the result is over 440,000 deaths each year, reaching 5 million around the world (Lee and Kalende; Le Foll and George). It is bittersweet to think a majority of these deaths could have been avoided. Finding a way to quit is literally going to save my life. The risk of a heart attack is comparable to that of a non-smoker just three years after quitting. Lung cancer risks drop significantly after ten years (Nordenberg). My wallet could also get a break after successful smoking cessation. Hopefully, quitting does reduce my health risks...