Being a health coach, I am obviously against smoking but I don’t judge or condemn those who smoke, as they are generally just feeding an addiction. However, I have some strong negative opinions of cigarette manufacturers who have profited extensively by the addictive nature of their products. I think education is the first step for those who want to quit smoking. Where did cigarettes originate, how harmful are they, and why is quitting so difficult?
The history of smoking
There is evidence that ancient civilizations in the Americas used the organic tobacco plant medicinally and for spiritual ceremony 12,000 years ago, long before European contact. Columbus and his crew observed Indigenous people smoking sacred tobacco leaves and brought the plant back to Spain and Portugal. By the mid-1500s tobacco traders facilitated its spread across Europe, where it was initially regarded as a luxury item and a medicinal product.
However, once the cigarette companies commercialized tobacco, it was heavily marketed and by the 19th and early 20th centuries, cigarette companies promoted tobacco as popular, cool and a "cure-all" for what ailed you. Doctors even recommended it to sick patients, including pregnant women.
The health risks of smoking
Over the past 40 to 50 years, however, we have come to understand the devastating impact of smoking. Research has unequivocally linked smoking to cancer, heart disease, lung disease, and early death. I know a few people who have died in the past couple years from lung cancer but sadly, they couldn’t give up smoking even when they realized and acknowledged that every cigarette was shortening the time they had left. This article is dedicated to the loved ones they left behind who were powerless to alter their addiction.
Each year smoking is responsible for the preventable deaths of over eight million people worldwide (including exposure to second-hand smoke). Alarmingly, today's cigarettes are even more harmful than those smoked 50 years ago due to the many added chemicals and increased nicotine levels.
Despite regulations on advertising and efforts to protect youth from tobacco marketing, smoking persists and is on the rise in many countries. Alarmingly, the majority of new smokers worldwide are adolescents.
Why do young people start smoking?
Several factors contribute, including insecurity, the desire to fit in with peers who smoke, and a sense of rebellion. For some teens, smoking may seem "badass" or edgy, adding to its appeal. Adolescence is a time of vulnerability, as many teenagers struggle to establish their identity outside of their family circle. Peer pressure can be powerful, leading them to pick up habits they might otherwise avoid. Additionally, some teens use smoking as a form of self-medication, believing it can ease anxiety or stress.
Unfortunately, many teenagers dismiss warnings about the dangers of smoking, feeling invincible and unaware of the long-term consequences their choices might have on their physical and mental health. Statistics show that 60% of teens who start smoking will continue the habit into adulthood. Moreover, children whose parents smoke are significantly more likely to become smokers themselves. Tragically, the majority of smokers eventually regret starting in the first place, recognizing the profound impact it has had on their health and its addictive nature.
Why are cigarettes so addictive?
Nicotine is an addictive component in tobacco but organic tobacco is not as addictive as modern, manufactured cigarettes which contain up to 600 added ingredients. These additives serve several purposes: they enhance flavour, smooth the harshness of the smoke, and increase nicotine absorption to maximize addiction.
A few of the dangerous chemicals in cigarettes include:
· ammonia and propylene glycol (both used to increase absorption rate of nicotine in the brain and therefore increase the addictiveness);
· acetone (found in nail polish remover),
· arsenic (rat poison),
· benzene (found in gasoline and rubber cement),
· butane (used in lighter fluid),
· cadmium (found in battery acid),
· carbon monoxide (present in car exhaust),
· formaldehyde (an embalming agent),
· bexamine (found in barbecue lighter fluid),
· methanol (found in rocket fuel),
· naphthalene (an ingredient in mothballs),
· tar (used in road paving),
· toluene (found in paint),
· turpentine (paint thinner),
· lead and nickel (used in batteries)
· sugar (for flavour and to increase nicotine potency) creates toxic aldehydes when burned and increases risks of cardiac disease, pulmonary disease, and cancer.
In addition to the added chemicals, as a cigarette burns, it also releases over 7,000 toxic chemicals, including at least 69 known (cancer-causing) carcinogens. These chemicals are inhaled by the smoker and those nearby through secondhand smoke.
The mental and social toll of smoking
While the long-term physical health consequences of smoking are well-documented, the mental health impacts are also concerning. While many young people start smoking to be socially accepted, they will eventually feel ostracized as smoking doesn’t hold the same ‘cool factor’ well into adult years. Smokers often experience anxiety, depression, and feelings of social judgment due to their addiction. (Addiction is the topic of another article.)
Disturbingly, tobacco companies have a reputation for targeting vulnerable groups including youth, marginalized communities, and individuals with anxiety or depression. Many people addicted to cigarettes cannot afford the habit, which only deepens financial strain and social stigma.
It shocks to me that cigarettes remain legal given their devastating health, social, and economic consequences. In my opinion, profit-driven motives of the tobacco industry resemble those of illicit drug dealers — prioritizing profit over human well-being.
Support for quitting is readily available, through mental health agencies, doctors, naturopaths, counsellors, social media, and community groups. Check out online resources like QuitNow (or call 1-877-455-2233).
Quitting smoking and nicotine dependence is a challenging journey, but with determination and support, it is possible to break free from this harmful addiction.
For those trying to quit smoking, the cycle of craving and withdrawal can lead to irritability and agitation, compounding mental health struggles.
However, please remember that vaping is not a healthier alternative.
Claire Nielsen is a health coach, author, public speaker and founder of www.elixirforlife.ca. The information provided in the above article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional health and medical advice. Please consult a doctor, health-care provider or mental health practitioner if you're seeking medical advice, diagnoses and/or treatment.
