Essay on Smoking

500 words essay on  smoking.

One of the most common problems we are facing in today’s world which is killing people is smoking. A lot of people pick up this habit because of stress , personal issues and more. In fact, some even begin showing it off. When someone smokes a cigarette, they not only hurt themselves but everyone around them. It has many ill-effects on the human body which we will go through in the essay on smoking.

essay on smoking

Ill-Effects of Smoking

Tobacco can have a disastrous impact on our health. Nonetheless, people consume it daily for a long period of time till it’s too late. Nearly one billion people in the whole world smoke. It is a shocking figure as that 1 billion puts millions of people at risk along with themselves.

Cigarettes have a major impact on the lungs. Around a third of all cancer cases happen due to smoking. For instance, it can affect breathing and causes shortness of breath and coughing. Further, it also increases the risk of respiratory tract infection which ultimately reduces the quality of life.

In addition to these serious health consequences, smoking impacts the well-being of a person as well. It alters the sense of smell and taste. Further, it also reduces the ability to perform physical exercises.

It also hampers your physical appearances like giving yellow teeth and aged skin. You also get a greater risk of depression or anxiety . Smoking also affects our relationship with our family, friends and colleagues.

Most importantly, it is also an expensive habit. In other words, it entails heavy financial costs. Even though some people don’t have money to get by, they waste it on cigarettes because of their addiction.

How to Quit Smoking?

There are many ways through which one can quit smoking. The first one is preparing for the day when you will quit. It is not easy to quit a habit abruptly, so set a date to give yourself time to prepare mentally.

Further, you can also use NRTs for your nicotine dependence. They can reduce your craving and withdrawal symptoms. NRTs like skin patches, chewing gums, lozenges, nasal spray and inhalers can help greatly.

Moreover, you can also consider non-nicotine medications. They require a prescription so it is essential to talk to your doctor to get access to it. Most importantly, seek behavioural support. To tackle your dependence on nicotine, it is essential to get counselling services, self-materials or more to get through this phase.

One can also try alternative therapies if they want to try them. There is no harm in trying as long as you are determined to quit smoking. For instance, filters, smoking deterrents, e-cigarettes, acupuncture, cold laser therapy, yoga and more can work for some people.

Always remember that you cannot quit smoking instantly as it will be bad for you as well. Try cutting down on it and then slowly and steadily give it up altogether.

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Conclusion of the Essay on Smoking

Thus, if anyone is a slave to cigarettes, it is essential for them to understand that it is never too late to stop smoking. With the help and a good action plan, anyone can quit it for good. Moreover, the benefits will be evident within a few days of quitting.

FAQ of Essay on Smoking

Question 1: What are the effects of smoking?

Answer 1: Smoking has major effects like cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes, and more. It also increases the risk for tuberculosis, certain eye diseases, and problems with the immune system .

Question 2: Why should we avoid smoking?

Answer 2: We must avoid smoking as it can lengthen your life expectancy. Moreover, by not smoking, you decrease your risk of disease which includes lung cancer, throat cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, and more.

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Persuasive Essay Guide

Persuasive Essay About Smoking

Caleb S.

Persuasive Essay About Smoking - Making a Powerful Argument with Examples

Persuasive essay about smoking

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Are you wondering how to write your next persuasive essay about smoking?

Smoking has been one of the most controversial topics in our society for years. It is associated with many health risks and can be seen as a danger to both individuals and communities.

Writing an effective persuasive essay about smoking can help sway public opinion. It can also encourage people to make healthier choices and stop smoking. 

But where do you begin?

In this blog, we’ll provide some examples to get you started. So read on to get inspired!

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  • 1. What You Need To Know About Persuasive Essay
  • 2. Persuasive Essay Examples About Smoking
  • 3. Argumentative Essay About Smoking Examples
  • 4. Tips for Writing a Persuasive Essay About Smoking

What You Need To Know About Persuasive Essay

A persuasive essay is a type of writing that aims to convince its readers to take a certain stance or action. It often uses logical arguments and evidence to back up its argument in order to persuade readers.

It also utilizes rhetorical techniques such as ethos, pathos, and logos to make the argument more convincing. In other words, persuasive essays use facts and evidence as well as emotion to make their points.

A persuasive essay about smoking would use these techniques to convince its readers about any point about smoking. Check out an example below:

Simple persuasive essay about smoking

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Persuasive Essay Examples About Smoking

Smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable death in the world. It leads to adverse health effects, including lung cancer, heart disease, and damage to the respiratory tract. However, the number of people who smoke cigarettes has been on the rise globally.

A lot has been written on topics related to the effects of smoking. Reading essays about it can help you get an idea of what makes a good persuasive essay.

Here are some sample persuasive essays about smoking that you can use as inspiration for your own writing:

Persuasive speech on smoking outline

Persuasive essay about smoking should be banned

Persuasive essay about smoking pdf

Persuasive essay about smoking cannot relieve stress

Persuasive essay about smoking in public places

Speech about smoking is dangerous

Persuasive Essay About Smoking Introduction

Persuasive Essay About Stop Smoking

Short Persuasive Essay About Smoking

Stop Smoking Persuasive Speech

Check out some more persuasive essay examples on various other topics.

Argumentative Essay About Smoking Examples

An argumentative essay is a type of essay that uses facts and logical arguments to back up a point. It is similar to a persuasive essay but differs in that it utilizes more evidence than emotion.

If you’re looking to write an argumentative essay about smoking, here are some examples to get you started on the arguments of why you should not smoke.

Argumentative essay about smoking pdf

Argumentative essay about smoking in public places

Argumentative essay about smoking introduction

Check out the video below to find useful arguments against smoking:

Tips for Writing a Persuasive Essay About Smoking

You have read some examples of persuasive and argumentative essays about smoking. Now here are some tips that will help you craft a powerful essay on this topic.

Choose a Specific Angle

Select a particular perspective on the issue that you can use to form your argument. When talking about smoking, you can focus on any aspect such as the health risks, economic costs, or environmental impact.

Think about how you want to approach the topic. For instance, you could write about why smoking should be banned. 

Check out the list of persuasive essay topics to help you while you are thinking of an angle to choose!

Research the Facts

Before writing your essay, make sure to research the facts about smoking. This will give you reliable information to use in your arguments and evidence for why people should avoid smoking.

You can find and use credible data and information from reputable sources such as government websites, health organizations, and scientific studies. 

For instance, you should gather facts about health issues and negative effects of tobacco if arguing against smoking. Moreover, you should use and cite sources carefully.

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Make an Outline

The next step is to create an outline for your essay. This will help you organize your thoughts and make sure that all the points in your essay flow together logically.

Your outline should include the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. This will help ensure that your essay has a clear structure and argument.

Use Persuasive Language

When writing your essay, make sure to use persuasive language such as “it is necessary” or “people must be aware”. This will help you convey your message more effectively and emphasize the importance of your point.

Also, don’t forget to use rhetorical devices such as ethos, pathos, and logos to make your arguments more convincing. That is, you should incorporate emotion, personal experience, and logic into your arguments.

Introduce Opposing Arguments

Another important tip when writing a persuasive essay on smoking is to introduce opposing arguments. It will show that you are aware of the counterarguments and can provide evidence to refute them. This will help you strengthen your argument.

By doing this, your essay will come off as more balanced and objective, making it more convincing.

Finish Strong

Finally, make sure to finish your essay with a powerful conclusion. This will help you leave a lasting impression on your readers and reinforce the main points of your argument. You can end by summarizing the key points or giving some advice to the reader.

A powerful conclusion could either include food for thought or a call to action. So be sure to use persuasive language and make your conclusion strong.

To conclude,

By following these tips, you can write an effective and persuasive essay on smoking. Remember to research the facts, make an outline, and use persuasive language.

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Essay on Quitting Smoking

Students are often asked to write an essay on Quitting Smoking in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Quitting Smoking

Introduction.

Quitting smoking is a crucial step towards a healthier life. Smoking harms nearly every organ in the body, leading to various diseases.

Why Quit Smoking?

Smoking increases the risk of lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Quitting reduces these risks and improves overall health.

Challenges in Quitting

Quitting smoking can be hard due to nicotine addiction. However, with determination, support, and the right tools, it is possible.

Ways to Quit Smoking

There are several methods to quit smoking, like nicotine replacement therapy, medications, and counselling.

Quitting smoking is a journey towards a healthier life. It’s never too late to quit and start living a healthier lifestyle.

250 Words Essay on Quitting Smoking

The relevance of quitting smoking.

Smoking is a global public health concern, with millions succumbing to its ill effects annually. Despite the known dangers, the addiction is challenging to overcome due to nicotine’s addictive nature. However, quitting smoking is a crucial step towards improved health and quality of life.

Health Implications of Smoking

Smoking is linked to numerous diseases, including lung cancer, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It also increases the risk of stroke and harms nearly every organ in the body. The harmful effects extend to second-hand smokers, who are exposed to the same health risks.

The Process of Quitting

Quitting smoking is a journey that requires commitment, patience, and resilience. It often involves multiple attempts and various strategies such as nicotine replacement therapy, medication, counseling, and lifestyle changes. The process can be made easier with the support of friends, family, and healthcare professionals.

Benefits of Quitting

Quitting smoking leads to immediate and long-term health benefits. Within hours of quitting, heart rate and blood pressure drop. Over time, the risk of cancer and heart disease decreases. Additionally, it improves lung function and physical performance.

Quitting smoking is a challenging yet rewarding journey. Overcoming the addiction not only enhances personal health but also contributes to a healthier society. It is a testament to the human spirit’s resilience and the power of determination.

500 Words Essay on Quitting Smoking

Smoking has been identified as a leading cause of numerous health issues, ranging from lung cancer to heart diseases. Despite these well-documented health risks, quitting smoking remains a significant challenge for many individuals due to the addictive nature of nicotine. This essay aims to explore the process of quitting smoking, highlighting the benefits, challenges, and strategies to overcome those challenges.

The Benefits of Quitting Smoking

The benefits of quitting smoking are immediate and long-term. Almost instantly, the body begins to repair the damage caused by smoking. Within 20 minutes of quitting, heart rate and blood pressure drop. After a year, the risk of heart disease is half that of a smoker’s. Long-term benefits include reduced risks of stroke, lung cancer, and other respiratory diseases.

The Challenges of Quitting Smoking

Despite the clear benefits, quitting smoking is often a daunting task. Nicotine addiction is a complex issue, involving both physical and psychological aspects. Physically, the body becomes dependent on nicotine, leading to withdrawal symptoms when one tries to quit. Psychologically, smoking often becomes a coping mechanism for stress, making it harder to quit.

Strategies to Overcome Challenges

Overcoming the challenges of quitting smoking requires a comprehensive approach. Firstly, it’s important to recognize and understand the triggers that make one want to smoke. These could be stress, alcohol, caffeine, or certain social situations. Identifying these triggers can help in developing strategies to avoid or deal with them without resorting to smoking.

Secondly, seeking professional help can be beneficial. There are numerous smoking cessation programs and therapies available that can provide the necessary support and guidance. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), for instance, can help manage withdrawal symptoms.

Lastly, a strong support system is crucial. Encouragement and understanding from friends, family, and support groups can make the journey easier.

Quitting smoking is a journey that requires commitment, patience, and resilience. It’s not easy, but the benefits far outweigh the challenges. With the right strategies and support, quitting smoking is not only achievable but can significantly improve one’s quality of life. The journey of quitting is a testament to the human capacity for change and improvement.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

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Why is quitting so hard?

Your personal stop smoking plan, identify your smoking triggers, coping with nicotine withdrawal symptoms, manage cigarette cravings, preventing weight gain after you stop smoking, medication and therapy to help you quit, what to do if you slip or relapse, helping a loved one to stop smoking, how to quit smoking.

Ready to stop smoking? These tips will help you kick the cigarette habit for good.

quit tobacco essay

We all know the health risks of smoking, but that doesn’t make it any easier to kick the habit. Whether you’re an occasional teen smoker or a lifetime pack-a-day smoker, quitting can be really tough.

Smoking tobacco is both a physical addiction and a psychological habit. The nicotine from cigarettes provides a temporary—and addictive—high. Eliminating that regular fix of nicotine causes your body to experience physical withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Because of nicotine’s “feel good” effect on the brain, you may turn to cigarettes as a quick and reliable way to boost your outlook, relieve stress, and unwind. Smoking can also be a way of coping with depression, anxiety, or even boredom. Quitting means finding different, healthier ways to cope with those feelings.

Smoking is also ingrained as a daily ritual. It may be an automatic response for you to smoke a cigarette with your morning coffee, while taking a break at work or school, or on your commute home at the end of a hectic day. Or maybe your friends, family, or colleagues smoke, and it’s become part of the way you relate with them.

To successfully stop smoking, you’ll need to address both the addiction and the habits and routines that go along with it. But it can be done. With the right support and quit plan, any smoker can kick the addiction—even if you’ve tried and failed multiple times before.

Speak to a Licensed Therapist

BetterHelp is an online therapy service that matches you to licensed, accredited therapists who can help with depression, anxiety, relationships, and more. Take the assessment and get matched with a therapist in as little as 48 hours.

While some smokers successfully quit by going cold turkey, most people do better with a tailored plan to keep themselves on track. A good quit plan addresses both the short-term challenge of stopping smoking and the long-term challenge of preventing relapse. It should also be tailored to your specific needs and smoking habits.

Questions to ask yourself

Take the time to think of what kind of smoker you are, which moments of your life call for a cigarette, and why. This will help you to identify which tips, techniques, or therapies may be most beneficial for you.

Are you a very heavy smoker (more than a pack a day)? Or are you more of a social smoker? Would a simple nicotine patch do the job?

Are there certain activities, places, or people you associate with smoking? Do you feel the need to smoke after every meal or whenever you break for coffee?

Do you reach for cigarettes when you’re feeling stressed or down? Or is your cigarette smoking linked to other addictions, such as alcohol or gambling ?

Start your stop smoking plan with START

S = Set a quit date.

Choose a date within the next two weeks, so you have enough time to prepare without losing your motivation to quit. If you mainly smoke at work, quit on the weekend, so you have a few days to adjust to the change.

T = Tell family, friends, and co-workers that you plan to quit.

Let your friends and family in on your plan to quit smoking and tell them you need their support and encouragement to stop. Look for a quit buddy who wants to stop smoking as well. You can help each other get through the rough times.

A = Anticipate and plan for the challenges you’ll face while quitting.

Most people who begin smoking again do so within the first three months. You can help yourself make it through by preparing ahead for common challenges, such as nicotine withdrawal and cigarette cravings.

R = Remove cigarettes and other tobacco products from your home, car, and work.

Throw away all of your cigarettes, lighters, ashtrays, and matches. Wash your clothes and freshen up anything that smells like smoke. Shampoo your car, clean your drapes and carpet, and steam your furniture.

T = Talk to your doctor about getting help to quit.

Your doctor can prescribe medication to help with withdrawal symptoms. If you can’t see a doctor, you can get many products over the counter at your local pharmacy, including nicotine patches, lozenges, and gum.

One of the best things you can do to help yourself quit is to identify the things that make you want to smoke, including specific situations, activities, feelings, and people.

Keep a craving journal

A craving journal can help you zero in on your patterns and triggers. For a week or so leading up to your quit date, keep a log of your smoking. Note the moments in each day when you crave a cigarette:

  • What time was it?
  • How intense was the craving (on a scale of 1-10)?
  • What were you doing?
  • Who were you with?
  • How were you feeling?
  • How did you feel after smoking?

Do you smoke to relieve unpleasant feelings?

Many of us smoke to manage unpleasant feelings such as stress, depression, loneliness, and anxiety. When you have a bad day, it can seem like cigarettes are your only friend. As much comfort as cigarettes provide, though, it’s important to remember that there are healthier and more effective ways to keep unpleasant feelings in check. These may include exercising, meditating, relaxation strategies , or simple breathing exercises.

For many people, an important aspect of giving up smoking is to find alternate ways to handle these difficult feelings without turning to cigarettes. Even when cigarettes are no longer a part of your life, the painful and unpleasant feelings that may have prompted you to smoke in the past will still remain. So it’s worth spending some time thinking about the different ways you intend to deal with stressful situations and the daily irritations that would normally have you lighting up.

Tips for avoiding common triggers

Alcohol. Many people smoke when they drink . Try switching to non-alcoholic drinks or drink only in places where smoking inside is prohibited. Alternatively, try snacking on nuts, chewing on a cocktail stick or sucking on a straw.

Other smokers. When friends, family, and co-workers smoke around you, it can be doubly difficult to give up or avoid relapse. Talk about your decision to quit so people know they won’t be able to smoke when you’re in the car with them or taking a coffee break together. In your workplace, find non-smokers to have your breaks with or find other things to do, such as taking a walk.

End of a meal. For some smokers, ending a meal means lighting up, and the prospect of giving that up may appear daunting. However, you can try replacing that moment after a meal with something else, such as a piece of fruit, a healthy dessert, a square of chocolate, or a stick of gum.

Once you stop smoking, you’ll likely experience a number of physical symptoms as your body withdraws from nicotine. Nicotine withdrawal begins quickly, usually starting within an hour of the last cigarette and peaking two to three days later. Withdrawal symptoms can last for a few days to several weeks and differ from person to person.

Common nicotine withdrawal symptoms include:

  • Cigarette cravings
  • Irritability, frustration, or anger
  • Anxiety or nervousness
  • Difficulty concentrating Restlessness
  • Increased appetite
  • Increased coughing
  • Constipation or upset stomach
  • Decreased heart rate

As unpleasant as these withdrawal symptoms may be, it’s important to remember that they are only temporary. They will get better in a few weeks as the toxins are flushed from your body. In the meantime, let your friends and family know that you won’t be your usual self and ask for their understanding.

While avoiding smoking triggers will help reduce your urge to smoke, you probably can’t avoid cigarette cravings entirely. Fortunately, cravings don’t last long—typically, about 5 or 10 minutes. If you’re tempted to light up, remind yourself that the craving will soon pass and try to wait it out. It helps to be prepared in advance by having strategies to cope with cravings.

Distract yourself. Do the dishes, turn on the TV, take a shower, or call a friend. The activity doesn’t matter as long as it gets your mind off smoking.

Remind yourself why you quit. Focus on your reasons for quitting, including the health benefits (lowering your risk for heart disease and lung cancer, for example), improved appearance, money you’re saving, and enhanced self-esteem.

Get out of a tempting situation. Where you are or what you’re doing may be triggering the craving. If so, a change of scenery can make all the difference.

Reward yourself. Reinforce your victories. Whenever you triumph over a craving, give yourself a reward to keep yourself motivated.

Coping with cigarette cravings in the moment

Find an oral substitute – Keep other things around to pop in your mouth when cravings hit. Try mints, carrot or celery sticks, gum, or sunflower seeds. Or suck on a drinking straw.

Keep your mind busy – Read a book or magazine, listen to some music you love, do a crossword or Sudoku puzzle, or play an online game.

Keep your hands busy – Squeeze balls, pencils, or paper clips are good substitutes to satisfy that need for tactile stimulation.

Brush your teeth – The just-brushed, clean feeling can help banish cigarette cravings.

Drink water – Slowly drink a large glass of water. Not only will it help the craving pass, but staying hydrated helps minimize the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.

Light something else – Instead of lighting a cigarette, light a candle or some incense.

Get active – Go for a walk, do some jumping jacks or pushups, try some yoga stretches, or run around the block.

Try to relax – Do something that calms you down, such as taking a warm bath, meditating, reading a book, or practicing deep breathing exercises.

Go somewhere smoking is not permitted – Step into a public building, store, mall, coffee shop, or movie theatre, for example.

Smoking acts as an appetite suppressant, so gaining weight is a common concern for many of us when we decide to give up cigarettes. You may even be using it as a reason not to quit. While it’s true that many smokers put on weight within six months of stopping smoking, the gain is usually small—about five pounds on average—and that initial gain decreases over time. It’s also important to remember that carrying a few extra pounds for a few months won’t hurt your heart as much as smoking does. However, gaining weight is NOT inevitable when you stop smoking.

Smoking dampens your sense of smell and taste, so after you quit food will often seem more appealing. You may also gain weight if you replace the oral gratification of smoking with eating unhealthy comfort foods. Therefore, it’s important to find other, healthy ways to deal with unpleasant feelings such as stress, anxiety, or boredom rather than  mindless, emotional eating .

Nurture yourself. Instead of turning to cigarettes or food when you feel stressed, anxious, or depressed, learn new ways to quickly soothe yourself . Listen to uplifting music, play with a pet, or sip a cup of hot tea, for example.

Eat healthy, varied meals. Eat plenty of fruit, vegetables, and healthy fats . Avoid sugary food , sodas, fried, and convenience food.

Learn to eat mindfully. Emotional eating tends to be automatic and virtually mindless. It’s easy to polish off a tub of ice cream while zoning out in front of the TV or staring at your phone. But by removing distractions when you eat, it’s easier to focus on how much you’re eating and tune into your body and how you’re really feeling. Are you really still hungry or eating for another reason?

Drink lots of water. Drinking at least six to eight 8 oz. glasses will help you feel full and keep you from eating when you’re not hungry. Water will also help flush toxins from your body.

Take a walk. Not only will it help you burn calories and keep the weight off , but it will also help alleviate feelings of stress and frustration that accompany smoking withdrawal.

Snack on guilt-free foods. Good choices include sugar-free gum, carrot and celery sticks, or sliced bell peppers or jicama.

There are many different methods that have successfully helped people to kick the smoking habit. While you may be successful with the first method you try, more likely you’ll have to try a number of different methods or a combination of treatments to find the ones that work best for you.

Medications

Smoking cessation medications can ease withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings. They are most effective when used as part of a comprehensive stop smoking program monitored by your physician. Talk to your doctor about your options and whether an anti-smoking medication is right for you. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved options are:

Nicotine replacement therapy. Nicotine replacement therapy involves “replacing” cigarettes with other nicotine substitutes, such as nicotine gum, patch, lozenge, inhaler, or nasal spray. It relieves some of the withdrawal symptoms by delivering small and steady doses of nicotine into your body without the tars and poisonous gases found in cigarettes. This type of treatment helps you focus on breaking your psychological addiction and makes it easier to concentrate on learning new behaviors and coping skills.

Non-nicotine medication. These medications help you stop smoking by reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms without the use of nicotine. Medications such as bupropion (Zyban) and varenicline (Chantix, Champix) are intended for short-term use only.

What you need to know about e-cigarettes (vaping)

While some people find that vaping can help them to stop smoking, the FDA has not approved vaping as a method of smoking cessation. And recent news reports have even linked vaping to severe lung disease, prompting many questions about the safety of vaping. Here’s what you need to know:

  • In the United States, the FDA does not regulate e-cigarette products.
  • The FDA warns that vaping is “not safe for youth, young adults, pregnant women, or adults who do not currently use tobacco products.”
  • It’s hard to always know exactly what’s in e-cigarettes.
  • The liquid used in some e-cigarettes contains nicotine, which has many negative health effects. It can lead to high blood pressure and diabetes and can be especially dangerous to the developing brains of children and teens.
  • There is no information available about the long-term effects vaping can have on your health.
  • Until more is known, federal and state authorities recommend avoiding all vaping.

To learn more, read: Vaping: The Health Risks and How to Quit

Alternative therapies

There are several things you can do to stop smoking that don’t involve nicotine replacement therapy, vaping, or prescription medications. These include:

Hypnosis – This is a popular option that has produced good results for many smokers struggling to quit. Forget anything you may have seen from stage hypnotists, hypnosis works by getting you into a deeply relaxed state where you are open to suggestions that strengthen your resolve to stop smoking and increase your negative feelings toward cigarettes.

Acupuncture – One of the oldest known medical techniques, acupuncture is believed to work by triggering the release of endorphins (natural pain relievers) that allow the body to relax. As a smoking cessation aid, acupuncture can be helpful in managing smoking withdrawal symptoms.

Behavioral Therapy – Nicotine addiction is related to the habitual behaviors or rituals involved in smoking. Behavior therapy focuses on learning new coping skills and breaking those habits.

Motivational Therapies – Self-help books and websites can provide a number of ways to motivate yourself to give up smoking. One well known example is calculating the monetary savings. Some people have been able to find the motivation to quit just by calculating how much money they will save. It may be enough to pay for a summer vacation.

Smokeless or spit tobacco is NOT a healthy alternative to smoking

Smokeless tobacco, otherwise known as spit or chewing tobacco, is not a safe alternative to smoking cigarettes. It contains the same addictive chemical, nicotine, contained in cigarettes. In fact, the amount of nicotine absorbed from smokeless tobacco can be 3 to 4 times the amount delivered by a cigarette.

Most people try to stop smoking several times before they kick the habit for good, so don’t beat yourself up if you slip up and smoke a cigarette. Instead, turn the relapse into a rebound by learning from your mistake. Analyze what happened right before you started smoking again, identify the triggers or trouble spots you ran into, and make a new stop-smoking plan that eliminates them.

It’s also important to emphasize the difference between a slip and a relapse. If you start smoking again, it doesn’t mean that you can’t get back on the wagon. You can choose to learn from the slip and let it motivate you to try harder or you can use it as an excuse to go back to your smoking habit. But the choice is yours. A slip doesn’t have to turn into a full-blown relapse.

You’re not a failure if you slip up. It doesn’t mean you can’t quit for good.

Don’t let a slip become a mudslide. Throw out the rest of the pack. It’s important to get back on the non-smoking track as soon as possible.

Look back at your quit log and feel good about the time you went without smoking.

Find the trigger. Exactly what was it that made you smoke again? Decide how you will cope with that issue the next time it comes up.

Learn from your experience. What has been most helpful? What didn’t work?

Are you using a medicine to help you quit? Call your doctor if you start smoking again. Some medicines cannot be used if you’re smoking at the same time.

It’s important to remember that you cannot make a friend or loved one give up cigarettes; the decision has to be theirs. But if they do make the decision to stop smoking, you can offer support and encouragement and try to ease the stress of quitting. Investigate the different treatment options available and talk them through with the smoker; just be careful never to preach or judge. You can also help a smoker overcome cravings by pursuing other activities with them, and by keeping smoking substitutes, such as gum, on hand.

If a loved one slips or relapses, don’t make them feel guilty. Congratulate them on the time they went without cigarettes and encourage them to try again. Your support can make all the difference in helping your loved one eventually kick the habit for good.

Helping a teen to quit

Most smokers try their first cigarette around the age of 11, and many are addicted by the time they turn 14. The use of e-cigarettes (vaping) has also soared dramatically in recent years. While the health implications of vaping aren’t yet fully known, the FDA warns that it’s not safe for teens and we do know that teens who vape are more likely to begin smoking cigarettes.

[Read: Vaping: The Health Risks and How to Quit]

This can be worrying for parents, but it’s important to appreciate the unique challenges and peer pressure teens face when it comes to quitting smoking (or vaping). While the decision to give up has to come from the teen smoker him- or herself, there are still plenty of ways for you to help.

Tips for parents of teens who smoke or vape

  • Find out why your teen is smoking or vaping; they may want to be accepted by their peers or be seeking attention from you. Rather than making threats or ultimatums, talk about what changes can be made in their life to help them stop smoking.
  • If your child agrees to quit, be patient and supportive as they go through the process.
  • Set a good example by not smoking yourself. Parents who smoke are more likely to have kids who smoke.
  • Know if your kids have friends that smoke or vape. Talk with them about how to refuse a cigarette or e-cigarette.
  • Explain the health dangers and the unpleasant side effects smoking can have on their appearance (such as bad breath, discolored teeth and nails).
  • Establish a smoke-free policy in your home. Don’t allow anyone to smoke or vape indoors at any time.

Hotlines and support

Visit  Smokefree.gov  or call the quitline at 1-800-784-8669.

Take steps NOW to stop smoking  or call the helpline at 0300 123 1044.

Visit  Health Canada  or call the helpline at 1-866-366-3667.

QuitNow  or call 13 7848.

Nicotine Anonymous  offers a 12-Step program modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous with meetings in many different countries.

More Information

  • Join Freedom From Smoking - Smoking cessation program. (American Lung Association)
  • How to Quit Using Tobacco - Dealing with both the mental and physical addiction. (American Cancer Society)
  • How to Help Someone Quit Smoking - General hints for friends and family supporting someone who is quitting. (American Cancer Society)
  • Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders. (2013). In Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders . American Psychiatric Association. Link
  • Lopez-Quintero, C., Pérez de los Cobos, J., Hasin, D. S., Okuda, M., Wang, S., Grant, B. F., & Blanco, C. (2011). Probability and predictors of transition from first use to dependence on nicotine, alcohol, cannabis, and cocaine: Results of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC). Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 115(1–2), 120–130. Link
  • Quit Smoking | Smokefree. (n.d.). Retrieved August 2, 2021, from Link
  • US Preventive Services Task Force. (2021). Interventions for Tobacco Smoking Cessation in Adults, Including Pregnant Persons: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA, 325(3), 265–279. Link
  • Leone, F. T., Zhang, Y., Evers-Casey, S., Evins, A. E., Eakin, M. N., Fathi, J., Fennig, K., Folan, P., Galiatsatos, P., Gogineni, H., Kantrow, S., Kathuria, H., Lamphere, T., Neptune, E., Pacheco, M. C., Pakhale, S., Prezant, D., Sachs, D. P. L., Toll, B., … Farber, H. J. (2020). Initiating Pharmacologic Treatment in Tobacco-Dependent Adults. An Official American Thoracic Society Clinical Practice Guideline. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 202(2), e5–e31. Link
  • Complementary Health Approaches for Smoking Cessation: What the Science Says. (n.d.). NCCIH. Retrieved August 2, 2021, from Link
  • Miller, Jacqueline W., Timothy S. Naimi, Robert D. Brewer, and Sherry Everett Jones. Binge Drinking and Associated Health Risk Behaviors among High School Students. Pediatrics 119, no. 1 (January 2007): 76–85. Link
  • O’Brien, Charles P. Evidence-Based Treatments of Addiction. FOCUS 9, no. 1 (January 1, 2011): 107–17. Link

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  • Essay on Psychology

Free How to Quit Smoking Essay

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Psychology , Smoking , Experience , Motivation , Friendship , Life , Management , Sociology

Published: 12/06/2019

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Introduction

Smoking is one of the habits that one can be badly addicted to. Smoking is a habit that is too difficult to quit. In a smoker’s life for instance, it can be a very big step for one to quit smoking, unfortunately this step is not easy to take. This does not recognize whether you are a teen smoker or whether you have smoked all your life. It is basically difficult to quit smoking ones you are an addict. So, improvements are needed to quit smoking which foundationally need some motivation. This motivation should come from the social aspect, and the persons well calculated moves. Through motivation therefore, it is possible to learn the new ways and finally quit and manage the vehement desires of smoking. (Greaves, 36) As a smoker, I have really found it hard to accept the fact that there are people who once smoked and are now free from this habit. I find it very wise to quit smoking but the initiative has been an uphill to me. This is what prompted me to carry out some research on this habit.

This research relies on people’s experience which I do put in prose form.

Why it is hard to quit smoking.

There are several reasons which I found that have kept me smoking. One, smoking comes out to be a physical addiction and psychological habit. Smoking is like a daily ritual which needs to be repeated on daily basis. In addition to this we find that the content of cigarette, nicotine, does provide temporary and addictive state. So if one is to refrain from smoking, then there must be some physical signs that automatically will call for only the determined to stand against and move on. Basically when one has to quit smoking he has to quit both the addiction and the habit. Only through this will one count himself to be out of the addiction of nicotine. (Hilton, 13) Secondly, it is not easy to quit smoking especially for people who were used to it in managing overwhelming and unpleasant feelings such as anxiety, stress, and loneliness. Basically, smoking act as the only companion when one is lonely or is stressed. You find that the comfort that people seem to find through smoking is not an easy thing to abandon and start doing something else. But because one will pretend that he is quitting smoking, he or she will continue smoking and may continue till the end of his or her life. This is because it is not easy due to its addictive nature. The comfort that cigarettes do provide is also addictive. In addition to the addiction, there are some side benefits that do come with smoking thus making it very difficult to quit. These side benefits can include the stimulation that smokers do get when the smoke, the pleasure, the relaxation that these smokers get is very overwhelming that stopping smoking is not easy. These are some of the reasons why I find it not easy to stop smoking. Though it is difficult to stop smoking, I have come to understand that people have been able to stop smoking. They have graduated from that class and have joined the class of non smokers. On inquiring, I came out with some possible solutions to why they managed to quit smoking. The foremost step is that one has to take the initiate to stop smoking. He or she should come out with an effective plan to help him or she quit the craving desire for cigarettes, to manage his or her unpleasant and overwhelming feelings. On top of these, one needs support from the social aspect of life. Those who are close to this smoker do play a very big role in ensuring that they either continue smoking or quit. Through the support of people like the family, the peers and friends from whichever dimension, quitting smoking will not be difficult to undertake.

Personally, I have found it very difficult to stop smoking but now I know that people can work their ways out of the habit. I just want to try my best to quit this habit just like my friends have done it. I want to acknowledge the role that psychology play in such calls for actions. The role that the mind plays stands out to be very significant and this proves that the major step in quitting smoking is having a determined mind to quit smoking. The experience I have had while smoking is pathetic and it is my wish you don’t fall into this trap that I fell in. kindly don not smoke.

Works cited:

Hilton, M. The Smoking Culture: Perfect Pleasures. Manchester University Press, 2000 Gilman, S. L. . Smoke: History of Smoking. Reaktion Books, 2003 Greaves, L. Reflections on Addiction and Modernity State University of New York Press, 2002 Robicsek, F. The Smoking Gods . Eve publishers. Michigan, 1978 West, R. and Shiffman, S. Fast Facts: Smoking Cessation. Health Press Ltd, 2007.

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Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — Addictions — Smoking

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Essays About Smoking

Smoking essay, types of essay about smoking.

  • Cause and Effect Essay: This type of essay focuses on the causes and effects of smoking. It discusses why people start smoking and the consequences of smoking on both the smoker and those around them.
  • Argumentative Essay: This essay type aims to persuade the reader about the negative effects of smoking. It presents an argument and provides supporting evidence to convince the reader that smoking is harmful and should be avoided.
  • Persuasive Essay: Similar to an argumentative essay, this type of essay aims to persuade the reader to quit smoking. It presents facts, statistics, and other relevant information to convince the reader to stop smoking.

Smoking Essay Example: Cause and Effect

  • Identify the causes of smoking: Start by examining why people start smoking in the first place. Is it peer pressure, addiction, stress, or curiosity? Understanding the reasons why people smoke is crucial in creating an effective cause and effect essay.
  • Discuss the effects of smoking: Highlight the impact smoking has on an individual's health and the environment. Discuss the risks associated with smoking, such as lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory problems, and explain how smoking affects non-smokers through secondhand smoke.
  • Use reliable sources: To make your essay more convincing, ensure that you use credible sources to back up your claims. Use scientific studies, government reports, and medical journals to support your arguments.
  • Provide statistical evidence: Incorporate statistical data to make your essay more impactful. Use figures to show the number of people who smoke, the effects of smoking on the environment, and the costs associated with smoking.
  • Offer solutions: Conclude your essay by suggesting solutions to the problem of smoking. Encourage smokers to quit by outlining the benefits of quitting smoking and offering resources for those who want to quit.

Smoking: Argumentative Essay

  • Choose a clear position: The writer should choose a side on the issue of smoking, either for or against it, and be clear in presenting their stance.
  • Gather evidence: Research and collect facts and statistics to support the writer's argument. They can find data from reliable sources like scientific journals, government reports, and reputable news organizations.
  • Address counterarguments: A good argumentative essay will acknowledge opposing viewpoints and then provide a counterargument to refute them.
  • Use persuasive language: The writer should use persuasive language to convince the reader of their position. This includes using rhetorical devices, such as ethos, pathos, and logos, to appeal to the reader's emotions and logic.
  • Provide a clear conclusion: The writer should summarize the key points of their argument and reiterate their stance in the conclusion.

Persuasive Essay on Smoking

  • Identify your audience and their beliefs about smoking.
  • Present compelling evidence to support your argument, such as statistics, research studies, and personal anecdotes.
  • Use emotional appeals, such as stories or images that show the negative impact of smoking.
  • Address potential counterarguments and refute them effectively.
  • Use strong and clear language to persuade the reader to take action.
  • When choosing a topic for a smoking persuasive essay, consider a specific aspect of smoking that you would like to persuade the audience to act upon.

Hook Examples for Smoking Essays

Anecdotal hook.

Imagine a teenager taking their first puff of a cigarette, unaware of the lifelong addiction they're about to face. This scenario illustrates the pervasive issue of smoking among young people.

Question Hook

Is the pleasure derived from smoking worth the serious health risks it poses? Dive into the contentious debate over tobacco use and its consequences.

Quotation Hook

"Smoking is a habit that drains your money and kills you slowly, one puff after another." — Unknown. Explore the financial and health impacts of smoking in today's society.

Statistical or Factual Hook

Did you know that smoking is responsible for nearly 8 million deaths worldwide each year? Examine the alarming statistics and data associated with tobacco-related illnesses.

Definition Hook

What exactly is smoking, and what are the various forms it takes? Delve into the definitions of smoking, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and emerging alternatives like e-cigarettes.

Rhetorical Question Hook

Can we truly call ourselves a smoke-free generation when new nicotine delivery devices are enticing young people? Investigate the impact of vaping and e-cigarettes on the youth.

Historical Hook

Trace the history of smoking, from its ancient roots to its prevalence in different cultures and societies. Explore how perceptions of smoking have evolved over time.

Contrast Hook

Contrast the images of the suave, cigarette-smoking characters from classic films with the grim reality of tobacco-related diseases and addiction in the modern world.

Narrative Hook

Walk in the shoes of a lifelong smoker as they recount their journey from that first cigarette to a battle with addiction and the quest to quit. Their story reflects the struggles of many.

Shocking Statement Hook

Prepare to uncover the disturbing truth about smoking—how it not only harms the smoker but also affects non-smokers through secondhand smoke exposure. It's an issue that goes beyond personal choice.

Can Smoking Be Prevented by Making Tobacco Illegal

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Fight addiction with the help willpower, should smoking be made illegal: argumentative, look of maturity: why smoking is "good" for you, nevada's smoking freedom at stake as joelle babula argues that local government should enforce strict laws, the effects of smoking ban, the challenges of quitting smoking, discussion on whether cigarette smoking should be banned in public places, the motif of smoking in all the pretty horses, the issue of smoking and alcohol drinking among adolescents, my personal experience of the effects of vaping, why vaping is bad for you: effects and dangers, feminist theory and communication, the toxic truth of smoking and vaping, the different harmful effects of smoking marijuana, pieces of advice that will help you to select the best vape shop in las vegas, facts of herbal cigarettes versus tobacco cigarettes, vaping: all you need to know about this trend, from cure to poison: the negative effects of tobacco, global efforts to diminish tobacco usage, relevant topics.

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  • About Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking
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E-Cigarette Use Among Youth

What to know.

E-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product among U.S. youth. No tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, are safe, especially for children, teens, and young adults. Learn more about e-cigarette use among youth.

  • In the United States, youth use e-cigarettes, or vapes, more than any other tobacco product. 1
  • No tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, are safe, especially for children, teens, and young adults. 2
  • Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive. Nicotine can harm the parts of an adolescent's brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control. 2
  • E-cigarette marketing, the availability of flavored products, social influences, and the effects of nicotine can influence youth to start or continue vaping. 3 4
  • Most middle and high school students who vape want to quit. 5
  • Many people have an important role in protecting youth from vaping including parents and caregivers, educators and school administrators, health care providers, and community partners.
  • States and local communities can implement evidence-based policies, programs, and services to reduce youth vaping.

E-cigarette use among U.S. youth

In 2023, e-cigarettes were the most commonly used tobacco product among middle and high school students in the United States. In 2023: 6

  • 550,000 (4.6%) middle school students.
  • 1.56 million (10.0%) high school students.
  • Among students who had ever used e-cigarettes, 46.7% reported current e-cigarette use.
  • 1 in 4 (25.2%) used an e-cigarette every day.
  • 1 in 3 (34.7%) used an e-cigarette on at least 20 of the last 30 days.
  • 9 in 10 (89.4%) used flavored e-cigarettes.
  • Most often used disposable e-cigarettes (60.7%) followed by e-cigarettes with prefilled or refillable pods or cartridges (16.1%).
  • Most commonly reported using the following brands: Elf Bar, Esco Bars, Vuse, JUUL, and Mr. Fog.

Most middle and high school students who vape want to quit and have tried to quit. 5 In 2020:

  • 63.9% of students who currently used e-cigarettes reported wanting to quit.
  • 67.4% of students who currently used e-cigarettes reported trying to quit in the last year.

Most tobacco use, including vaping, starts and is established during adolescence. There are many factors associated with youth tobacco product use . These include:

  • Tobacco advertising that targets youth.
  • Product accessibility.
  • Availability of flavored products.
  • Social influences.
  • Adolescent brain sensitivity to nicotine.

Some groups of middle and high school students use e-cigarettes at a higher percentage than others. For example, in 2023: 6

  • More females than males reported current e-cigarette use.
  • Non-Hispanic multiracial students: 20.8%.
  • Non-Hispanic White students: 18.4%.
  • Hispanic or Latino students: 18.2%.
  • Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native students: 15.4%.
  • Non-Hispanic Black or African American students: 12.9%.

Many young people who vape also use other tobacco products, including cigarettes and cigars. 7 This is called dual use. In 2020: 8

  • About one in three high school students (36.8%) who vaped also used other tobacco products.
  • One in two middle school students (49.0%) who vaped also used other tobacco products.

E-cigarettes can also be used to deliver other substances, including cannabis. In 2016, nearly one in three (30.6%) of U.S. middle and high school students who had ever used an e-cigarette reported using marijuana in the device. 9

  • Park-Lee E, Ren C, Cooper M, Cornelius M, Jamal A, Cullen KA. Tobacco product use among middle and high school students—United States, 2022 . MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2022;71:1429–1435.
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. E-cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults: A Report of the Surgeon General . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2016. Accessed Feb 14, 2024.
  • Apelberg BJ, Corey CG, Hoffman AC, et al. Symptoms of tobacco dependence among middle and high school tobacco users: results from the 2012 National Youth Tobacco Survey . Am J Prev Med. 2014;47(Suppl 1):S4–14.
  • Gentzke AS, Wang TW, Cornelius M, et al. Tobacco product use and associated factors among middle and high school students—National Youth Tobacco Survey, United States, 2021 . MMWR Surveill Summ. 2022;71(No. SS-5):1–29.
  • Zhang L, Gentzke A, Trivers KF, VanFrank B. Tobacco cessation behaviors among U.S. middle and high school students, 2020 . J Adolesc Health. 2022;70(1):147–154.
  • Birdsey J, Cornelius M, Jamal A, et al. Tobacco product use among U.S. middle and high school students—National Youth Tobacco Survey, 2023 . MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2023;72:1173–1182.
  • Wang TW, Gentzke AS, Creamer MR, et al. Tobacco product use and associated factors among middle and high school students—United States, 2019 . MMWR Surveill Summ. 2019;68(No. SS-12):1–22.
  • Wang TW, Gentzke AS, Neff LJ, et al. Characteristics of e-cigarette use behaviors among US youth, 2020 . JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(6):e2111336.
  • Trivers KF, Phillips E, Gentzke AS, Tynan MA, Neff LJ. Prevalence of cannabis use in electronic cigarettes among U.S. youth . JAMA Pediatr. 2018;172(11):1097–1099.

Smoking and Tobacco Use

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8 Strategies to Use if You Want to Quit Smoking in 2024

E very year, we write our lists of things we want to accomplish to become a better version of ourselves in the new year. For many people, quitting smoking is at the top of the list. Unfortunately, not everyone is successful because they haven't adequately prepared to quit. 

Making a plan that works for you is essential. Whether you want to know how to quit smoking cold turkey or how to stop smoking with a more gradual method, we're here to help. With these practical tips, you can start 2024 on the right foot and achieve your goals.

For more health tips, check out this supplement that will help you sleep and five tips to cope with sleep anxiety .

How to make a plan to quit smoking that works for you

Setting up a plan is a great way to start the process of giving up nicotine. That plan begins with examining your habits and considering what will work best for you.

Examine your current smoking habits 

Once you've decided you want to stop smoking, it's a good practice to come up with a plan you will follow through with. That starts with looking at your smoking habits and figuring out how to change them

  • Become aware of how much you smoke: Before you cut back, it's important to understand how much you're smoking to begin with. It might be more than you think. Count how many cigarettes you're smoking each day and write it down so you can look at that number. 
  • Identify the reasons you smoke: There are certainly reasons that you smoke or use tobacco and the next step in your journey is understanding them. There's a good possibility that it's a years-old habit that doesn't feel like it has its reasons anymore -- but think about why you started in the first place and why you turn to it throughout the day now. Every time you want to smoke, write down why you're doing it. 
  • Think about why you want to quit smoking: Having a reason in place will help you stick to your guns when it comes to giving up tobacco. Whether it's for your health, the sake of your children or another reason, figure out why you really want to quit smoking -- beyond just quitting for the sake of quitting. While that is a great way to start, having something you can visualize in the tough parts of this journey can help you push through when you feel like giving up.

Learn how smoking affects your body

Smoking and general tobacco use can have a very negative effect on your body. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , "smoking can cause cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Smoking also increases risk for tuberculosis, certain eye diseases and problems of the immune system, including rheumatoid arthritis." All of these physical concerns can also lead to issues with your mental health with the added stress of a medical condition.

Studies have also proven that smoking at night may be a direct cause of insomnia , and poor sleep health can lead to other health issues like obesity and heart problems. The CDC also points out how harmful secondhand smoke is, especially around children: Secondhand smoke causes around 400 infant deaths each year.

Set a goal 

Goals can help keep you motivated, but beyond one big goal of "quit smoking," set smaller goals that you can achieve along the way. Maybe you start with giving up smoking one day at a time. For a month, commit to not smoking on weekends. When you make it through the month, treat yourself and move on to the next goal. This feels more manageable than quitting cold turkey (although that method certainly works for some people). 

Try nicotine replacement therapy 

Nicotine replacement therapy -- like a nicotine patch or gum -- can help curb cravings for nicotine. These low doses of nicotine have been proven in numerous studies as a positive resource in giving up smoking. If you're considering nicotine replacement therapy, it's not a bad idea to speak to your healthcare provider to decide which product may work best for you.

Consider prescription pills 

You can also speak to your doctor about a prescription medication to help you quit smoking. Chantix and Zyban are two popular prescription medications for smoking cessation that you can discuss with your doctor. Pfizer shared research on the effectiveness of Chantix , with various studies demonstrating upwards of 40% of participants successfully abstaining from smoking while using the drug. 

Create a support system 

Surrounding yourself with people to lean on while you're going through what will certainly be a difficult time can help you not only be successful but also stay motivated. When you're feeling like you want to give up, these people can help you keep going.

  • Let your friends and family know your goals: Share your goals with your trusted circle who will support you -- but leave out anyone who won't. Let them know what your goals are and let them know how they can help you. If you want them to not smoke around you, mention it. If you want them to cheer you on, tell them that. If you want them to be a silent supporter, express just that. 
  • Create your community: It's also important to find people who are either currently going through the same journey as you or have at some point because they'll understand you better than anyone. Online communities and in-person communities like Nicotine Anonymous and Smokers Anonymous can be helpful.
  • Seek professional help: You can also turn to your doctor or therapist for guidance and support while you give up smoking. They can provide you with further resources or medically backed reasons for quitting. They can also help you see the positive effects your physical and mental health are going through as you smoke less and less, which can help keep you motivated.

Plan for the side effects 

Most people who give up smoking experience withdrawal symptoms. When weaning yourself off tobacco, the CDC says you can expect to feel irritable, restless, hungry, depressed, and sad. You may also have trouble sleeping and see some weight gain. All of these are common but speak to your doctor about anything that doesn't feel right to you. 

The CDC also recommends exercise to deal with restless, anxious feelings. Exercise will raise your heart rate and get your endorphins going, which can improve your mood. Plus, it's a way to channel those negative side effects into something positive. 

Celebrate your wins 

While it's great to celebrate reaching your big goal, it's just as important to celebrate smaller goals along the way. The first day you fully go without smoking, treat yourself. Once you hit a week, treat yourself again. Buy yourself a nice meal out or go get ice cream. Go have a spa day or buy yourself some shoes you've been eyeing. When you start, set up a bank of rewards you'll give yourself so you know exactly what you're working toward.

Kickstart the new year by quitting your smoking habit. 

More From Forbes

Want to quit nicotine your menstrual cycle may increase your cravings.

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Close-up of an unidentified woman as she smokes a cigarette on a sidewalk in the Soho neighborhood, ... [+] London, 1965. (Photo by Susan Wood/Getty Images)

May 31st is World No Tobacco Day, and the World Health Organization hopes that many people will pledge to quit smoking. Deciding to quit is an important first step toward a healthier lifestyle. However, nicotine cravings can tempt you to relapse. While men are more likely to start smoking, women report higher rates of relapse and worse withdrawal symptoms than men.

Sex hormones are partly to blame for this gender discrepancy .

Women who try to quit smoking before they ovulate tend to experience a higher risk of relapse, stronger withdrawal symptoms, and more severe PMS symptoms, according to a 2020 medical review published in the journal Frontiers Psychiatry. The follicular phase includes the first couple weeks of your cycle, before you ovulate. During this phase, your body produces more estrogen. Estrogen enhances nicotine’s “feel-good” chemicals, which encourages you to continue smoking.

"Incontrollable urges to smoke are stronger at the beginning of the follicular phase that begins after menstruation. Hormonal decreases of estrogen and progesterone possibly deepen the withdrawal syndrome and increase activity of neural circuits associated with craving," psychologist Adrianna Mendrek said in an interview with Contemporary OB/GYN.

Smoking feels so rewarding (and addictive) because nicotine releases adrenaline and triggers dopamine. These bodily responses may cause a smoker to feel more alert and less irritable. These physical effects become even stronger (and even more addictive) in the follicular phase of your menstrual cycle.

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When you quit an addictive substance like nicotine, you may feel mild-to-moderate headaches and body pain. These unpleasant symptoms can be compounded by the hormonal changes that you already experience during your menstrual cycle. Women may have a lower pain tolerance and a higher chance of getting injured during their follicular phase. For example, women athletes may track their cycle because “Muscle and tendon injuries occur almost twice as often in the late follicular phase” of menstruation, according to a 2021 study published in the journal Frontiers in Sports and Active Living. Many athletes strategically wear more protective gear and avoid risky moves during the late follicular phase of their period. Similarly, you can prepare for higher chances of success if you plan to quit smoking after you ovulate.

Quitting nicotine is not easy, but your menstrual cycle can provide you with a timeline to start. If you’re thinking about quitting smoking, consult your doctor to plan a time of the month when your sex hormones are less likely to elevate your cravings and worsen your withdrawal symptoms.

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National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (US) Office on Smoking and Health. E-Cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults: A Report of the Surgeon General [Internet]. Atlanta (GA): Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US); 2016.

Cover of E-Cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults

E-Cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults: A Report of the Surgeon General [Internet].

Chapter 5 e-cigarette policy and practice implications.

  • Introduction

The previous chapters have set out what is currently known and not known about e-cigarettes. Despite the identified gaps in evidence and the dynamic, evolving patterns of the use of e-cigarettes, policy options are needed. These policy options are particularly important as they affect the use of e-cigarettes by youth and young adults. As this report has demonstrated, e-cigarettes are widely used by youth and young adults and are particularly risky for these age groups, and efforts to prevent their use by young people are needed. This chapter explores the policy landscape of e-cigarettes and sets forth recommendations that should protect the public’s health, particularly as these policies relate to the short- and long-term health of youth and young adults.

The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009 (or Tobacco Control Act) (2009) is meant to protect the health of the public, including young people. As previously discussed, on May 10, 2016, FDA published a final rule which deemed all other products, including e-cigarettes, meeting the definition of a tobacco product, except accessories of such products, to be subject to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. This rule went into effect on August 8, 2016 ( Federal Register 2016 ). Under the Tobacco Control Act, FDA likely will be required to consider the consequences of e-cigarette use for those who do not use tobacco products (as well as for those who do).

  • Increases exposure to nicotine among youth and young adults;
  • Leads to the initiation of combustible tobacco smoking;
  • Slows or prevents cessation of combustible products by nicotine-addicted smokers; or
  • Increases the likelihood that former smokers will again become addicted to nicotine and/or use combustible products after being reintroduced to nicotine by e-cigarettes.

Potential harm also comes from secondhand exposure to the vapor or aerosol expelled from e-cigarette users. Secondhand exposure comes from inhaling the aerosol or contacting vapor-contaminated surfaces. Each of the potential negative consequences of the availability of e-cigarettes could lead to additional disease and premature mortality ( Chapter 3 ).

Relative to efforts in cigarette and smokeless tobacco use prevention and control, a polarized debate has been in progress for several years over the role of e-cigarettes. There is general agreement that exclusive use of e-cigarettes poses a lower health risk to the individual than the extremely high health risks of using conventional, combustible tobacco products ( Farsalinos and Polosa 2014 ; Grana et al. 2014a , b ), although more research is needed on this as more becomes known about the harmful constituents of e-cigarettes ( Sleiman et al. 2016 ). The controversy reflects the relative degree of emphasis given to the potential harm to adolescents and young adults from using e-cigarettes at one pole compared with the potential for reduced risk for established adult users of conventional cigarettes at the other (if they transition completely to e-cigarettes). Although this characterization does not reflect the complexity of the situation, it is useful in defining the potential tradeoffs that are implicit: increased numbers of young people who are exposed to nicotine (and who may go on to conventional tobacco products) versus reduced health risks to individuals who completely switch from conventional, combustible tobacco products with their extremely high health risks. The discussion has become increasingly complicated as e-cigarette use has increased, and still-incomplete evidence potentially supports the views of those holding to both poles of the argument about reducing harm for the overall population. However, the majority of currently available scientific evidence does not support the recommendation to use e-cigarettes for the cessation of cigarette smoking ( Hartmann-Boyce et al. 2016 ). Additionally, the use of e-cigarettes does not pose benefits to youth and young adults, and some data suggest that use of e-cigarettes could lead to the more harmful use of conventional cigarettes. In the context of young people, the precautionary principle should apply. The precautionary principle is defined by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (2005) as appropriate “when human activities may lead to morally unacceptable harm that is scientifically plausible but uncertain, actions shall be taken to avoid or diminish that harm” (p.14).

  • Critical Issues Related to Policies on E-Cigarettes in 2016

The E-Cigarette Landscape Is Dynamic and Evolving

Considerations of policy approaches to e-cigarettes offered in this report are made in the context of a rapidly changing marketplace for nicotine-containing products that now includes primarily conventional cigarettes, cigars, smokeless products, hookahs, and e-cigarettes (see Chapter 2 ). The manufacture and sales of nicotine-containing products, once dominated by a few large companies selling conventional cigarettes, have been transformed and now include many smaller companies that manufacture and sell through stores and “vape shops.” E-cigarettes are also sold through websites and in places where conventional cigarettes have long been available—convenience stores, pharmacies, gas stations, and grocery stores. Currently, hundreds of different e-cigarette products are on the market: designs are evolving rapidly, and major tobacco companies have their own lines of e-cigarette products. However, unlike the situation in the past in which the marketing of conventional tobacco products changed relatively slowly and there were limited media outlets, information about e-cigarettes is now promoted quickly through new media, as well as television, in part to reach key target groups, including youth and young adults.

As documented in Chapter 2 , patterns of use are rapidly changing among adolescents and young adults, and likely among other groups within the population. For some of the most critical issues related to e-cigarettes, longitudinal data are not yet available because the use of these products is recent and constantly changing, and whether and when the patterns of use will stabilize is uncertain. Additionally, surveillance data and research on the wide-ranging consequences of e-cigarette use, including such key issues as the likelihood of addiction and other health problems for users and those passively exposed, are lagging behind the highly dynamic changes in the nicotine-product marketplace and the impact of these changes on the use of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.

With regard to the potential health consequences of using e-cigarettes, estimates can be made based on knowledge of the characteristics and components of the aerosols that are then inhaled. Unfortunately, evidence on short-term risks is limited, and long-term risks have not yet been identified because this would require monitoring users for years. For example, the impact of long-term inhalation of flavorings is not yet known. While some of the flavorings used in e-cigarettes are generally recognized as safe for ingestion as food, the health effects of their inhalation are generally unknown, and some flavorings have been shown to cause a serious lung disease, bronchiolitis obliterans, when inhaled ( Kreiss et al. 2002 ; Barrington-Trimis et al. 2014 ). Whether the risk of lung disease or other disorders is truly substantial will require longer term epidemiologic and other research ( Allen et al. 2016 ).

Thus, policy approaches must support control measures that (a) are as dynamic as the rapidly changing marketplace for e-cigarettes; (b) are supported by surveillance data; and (c) document in timely fashion the current status of the use of multiple types of tobacco products (including e-cigarettes); the emergence of state, local, tribal, and territorial policies; and the strategies being used to market these products.

Risk Tradeoffs Are Inherent for E-Cigarettes

Policy discussions about e-cigarettes have highlighted the potential tradeoffs in risk that could occur, particularly if e-cigarettes are positioned as a harm-reducing alternative to combustible tobacco products. Some have characterized these products as new technologies that might lead to a dramatic decline in the use of more dangerous forms of nicotine delivery, particularly conventional cigarettes and other combustible tobacco products ( Abrams 2014 ; Cobb and Abrams 2014 ; Fagerström and Bridgman 2014 ; Grana et al. 2014a ; Hajek et al. 2014 ; Henningfield 2014 ; Schraufnagel et al. 2014 ; West and Brown 2014 ; Lindblom 2015 ). Correspondingly, e-cigarettes have been proposed by some as a harm-reduction strategy and as a tool for smoking cessation, but the data to date do not support e-cigarettes for harm reduction or cessation ( Siegel et al. 2011 ; Abrams 2014 ). By contrast, others are concerned that the availability of these new products will expand the number of youth and young adults who are exposed to nicotine and will eventually lead to exclusive use of other conventional tobacco products or dual use of both (e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes) ( Leventhal et al. 2015 ; Primack et al. 2015 ). Early longitudinal evidence provides some support for these concerns, although further research on this issue is still warranted.

As reviewed in Chapter 3 , uncertainty remains about the health effects of e-cigarettes, particularly in the long term. Such effects will remain unknown until sufficient observations can be made over time. However, current knowledge of the characteristics of the inhaled aerosol from e-cigarettes suggests that if a current adult smoker of conventional cigarettes or other combustible tobacco products would use e-cigarettes exclusively instead of combustibles as a substitute nicotine delivery system, either en route to quitting tobacco completely or even as a long-term alternative, the risks of tobacco-related diseases would be reduced substantially compared with the risk imparted by continued smoking of conventional cigarettes ( Fiore et al. 2014 ; USDHHS 2014 ; McNeill et al. 2015 ).

Still, as documented in Chapter 3 , immediate and future health risks for youth and young adults who use e-cigarettes can be anticipated from exposure to nicotine, including addiction and harmful effects on brain development. Research must continue to characterize and quantify the full spectrum of potential health risks. Thus, in formulating policies related to the role of e-cigarettes in tobacco control and reducing the burden of tobacco-related disease, particularly among youth and young adults, e-cigarette products that deliver nicotine cannot be considered a risk-free alternative to conventional cigarettes or other combustible tobacco products.

Any analysis of the potential increased risks and reduced harms of e-cigarette use also needs to consider data on the actual patterns of use because more of the risks affect youth and young adults and most of the potential benefits from reduced risk to health largely accrue to older cigarette smokers ( Chapter 2 ). However, the reports of the tobacco industry to investors indicate the industry’s interest in maintaining a broad pattern of use of nicotine-containing products, including conventional cigarettes, for decades to come ( Calantzopoulos 2015 ). When considered in the context of the tobacco industry’s past changes to product design (e. g ., the creation of so-called “low-tar” cigarettes), the broader array of tobacco products now being discussed within the tobacco industry’s plans (e.g., “Heat-Not-Burn” products) could slow cessation (because smokers have historically been drawn to reduced-harm products) and thus the overall decline of tobacco-related diseases ( USDHHS 2014 ).

The dynamic balancing between risks and potential benefits of e-cigarette use will be swayed by the impact of such use on the use of other tobacco products by youth and young adults over time. The availability of e-cigarettes could adversely affect the use of tobacco products in this group by slowing the decline of smoking because this population will be exposed to nicotine and possibly become addicted to that substance. Indeed, data reviewed in Chapter 2 show evidence of such trends. Although the decline in rates of smoking conventional cigarettes and other combustible tobacco products is viewed universally as positive, the increasing number of youth and young adults who use e-cigarettes is a serious concern for all the reasons cited above. West and Brown (2014) and McNeill and colleagues (2015) suggest that the limited evidence from the United Kingdom does not support the concern that using e-cigarettes leads to the use of other tobacco products, and they maintain that the new adolescent users of these e-cigarette products include very few never smokers. However, the marketing of e-cigarettes is quite different between the United Kingom and the United States, and the patterns of use, particularly among youth, are also quite different ( European Parliament and Council 2014 ; England et al. 2015 ; Klein 2015 ; Leventhal et al. 2015 ; Primack et al. 2015 ; Barrington-Trimis et al. 2016; Wills et at. 2016 ; Institute for Global Tobacco Control n.d. ). This pattern is also evident in some U.S. survey data from early in the era of e-cigarette use (as reviewed in Chapter 2 ), but not in more recent data, which indicate that e-cigarette products may contribute to nicotine addiction in a new generation of young people and thereby lead to increased use of a variety of nicotine delivery products, including combustible tobacco ( Bauld et al. 2016 ; CDC 2016 ).

Fundamentally, the public health challenge and the charge to policy development can be framed as balancing the potential use of e-cigarettes as a new technology to reduce the use of combustible tobacco products against the possibility of expanding tobacco use among non-using youth and young adults, long-term former smokers, and other vulnerable populations (e. g ., women of reproductive age and individuals with significant comorbidities, including those with mental health problems). Already, the e-cigarette companies are increasing the appeal of their offerings by enhancing the efficiency of nicotine delivery and using flavorings while they continue to advertise and promote their products aggressively.

Additional Evidence Suggested for Future Research

To characterize the critical balance for public health between the harms and potential benefits of e-cigarettes, more evidence on each of the elements that determine that balance would be useful ( Table 5.1 ). The needed data would come from surveillance of patterns of adoption of e-cigarettes and their use among the population generally, and particularly among the most critical populations for uptake: youth and young adults, former smokers, smokers, and other populations that are particularly at risk for adverse outcomes. Few studies have been done on the health risks posed by e-cigarettes and their potential effectiveness for smoking cessation ( Hartmann-Boyce et al. 2016 ). However, as discussed in Chapter 2 , there are still no standardized questions for research on e-cigarettes, and there is a need for further testing and development of e-cigarette questions and measurements.

Table 5.1. Comparative risk assessment: Potential harms and benefits of e-cigarettes.

Comparative risk assessment: Potential harms and benefits of e-cigarettes.

To characterize the harms and benefits of e-cigarettes to public health, models are used to project their overall impact on public health ( Levy et al. 2016 ). The use of modeling was described in detail in the 2014 Surgeon General’s report ( USDHHS 2014 ). Conceptual models are needed to define the potential scenarios of changes in patterns of use among youth, young adults, adult smokers, former smokers, and other significant vulnerable populations. Figure 5.1 displays the range of patterns that are emerging with the wider adoption of e-cigarettes ( Cobb et al. 2015 ; Vugrin et al. 2015 ). Researchers and public health officials can use dynamic population models ( Mejia et al. 2010 ; Kalkhoran and Glantz 2015 ; Vugrin et al. 2015 ; Levy et al. 2016 ) to analyze the potential impact on population health of the relative probabilities of these various paths. Initial modeling has shown that the potential population health benefits are very sensitive to several factors: the levels of product risk, particularly those of e-cigarettes; patterns of initiation and switching; and the extent of dual use ( Mejia et al. 2010 ; Cobb et al. 2015 ; Kalkhoran and Glantz 2015 ; Vugrin et al. 2015 ). The benefits of smoking cessation, particularly as early in life as possible, are well documented, but the epidemiologic evidence that reducing (but not quitting) cigarette consumption can lower the risk of all-cause mortality, or mortality from cardiovascular diseases, remains inconclusive ( USDHHS 2014 ). Thus, more research is needed to better characterize the health consequences of dual use, in particular, in comparison to the recognized health benefits of complete smoking cessation (or potentially only e-cigarette use). Similarly, the health risks to former smokers who become exposed again to nicotine through e-cigarettes are uncertain. Data are still limited on the risk of starting (or not starting) to smoke conventional cigarettes again (after successful cessation) following exposure to nicotine via e-cigarettes.

Potential patterns of use of combustible products (CPs) and e-cigarettes (e-cigs). Source: USDHHS (2014). Adapted for this report.

As reviewed in Chapter 3 , the long-term health risks of e-cigarettes will not be known for decades, although evidence to date suggests that they are generally less harmful than combustible products. However, less harmful is not the same as harmless. A substantial amount of evidence is available on some components of the aerosols inhaled by e-cigarette users. For many people, exposure to aerosol could occur across much of the life span, beginning in adolescence and even in childhood, when the lungs and brain are still developing. Flavorings are of particular concern with regard to pulmonary toxicity, as are the various effects of nicotine on the brain. Although the National Institutes of Health is now supporting a growing program of research on e-cigarettes, critical questions have not yet been answered. Given experiences with conventional cigarettes, long-term studies will be needed to identify the full health consequences of using e-cigarettes.

Thus, policies related to e-cigarettes will necessarily be made in the context of accumulating but incomplete evidence. The landscape is changing rapidly and, inevitably, research cannot keep pace. Quoting Sir Austin Bradford Hill’s landmark paper on environment and disease: “All scientific work is incomplete—whether it be observational or experimental. All scientific work is liable to be upset or modified by advancing knowledge. That does not confer on us a freedom to ignore the knowledge we already have, or to postpone the action that it appears to demand at a given time” ( Hill 1965 , p. 300).

  • Potential Public Policy Approaches

In formulating public policies related to e-cigarettes, the context and possibilities vary across the national, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments and public entities. At the national level, progressive steps are being taken by FDA under the Tobacco Control Act. In 2010, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit determined that e-cigarettes and other products made or derived from tobacco may be regulated by FDA as tobacco products under the Tobacco Control Act and are not drugs or devices unless marketed for therapeutic purposes, such as being an aid to smoking cessation ( Sottera, Inc. v. Food and Drug Administration 2010 ). In May 2016, FDA released its deeming rule to regulate the sale and distribution of e-cigarettes as a tobacco product (see Chapter 1 ) ( Federal Register 2016 ). The rule is currently under litigation. The rule restricts the age of sale to those 18 years of age and older and requires retailers to check the age identification of young people under age 27, restricts vending machines to adult-only facilities, prohibits free samples, requires a health-warning statement about nicotine on packaging and in advertisements, requires domestic manufacturers to register their products and disclose the ingredients of their products, requires the reporting of the levels of harmful and potentially harmful constituents to FDA, allows FDA to review any new or changed products before being sold, and requires manufacturers to show scientific evidence that demonstrates the overall public health benefit of any product before it can be marketed as a modified risk tobacco product ( Federal Register 2016 ). The Tobacco Control Act does not provide FDA with authority to impose taxes on tobacco products ( Bhatnagar et al. 2014 ; Huang et al. 2014 ; Tobacco Control Legal Consortium 2015 ) or regulate indoor air quality ( Schripp et al. 2013 ; Bam et al. 2014 ; Bhatnagar et al. 2014 ; Brandon et al. 2015a ), occupational health and safety ( USDHHS 2015 ; Whitsel et al. 2015 ), or hazardous waste disposal ( Chang 2014 ; Krause and Townsend 2015 ).

FDA is not the only federal agency with potential jurisdiction over some aspect of e-cigarettes ( Table 5.2 ). For example, the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs relate to specific populations, and other agencies relate to regulatory activities, such as the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, U.S. Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Some agencies have coverage over specific areas, such as the General Services Administration and the National Park Service.

Table 5.2. Principle federal policies and regulations of tobacco that emphasize e-cigarettes.

Principle federal policies and regulations of tobacco that emphasize e-cigarettes.

State, local, tribal, and territorial governments, as well as private entities, may also address these and other matters that are covered by the Tobacco Control Act ( Freiberg 2012 ), and since 2010 many actions have been taken at the nonfederal level. State and local governments may utilize effective interventions that would also be expected to apply to e-cigarettes: increasing the price of tobacco products through taxation ( Community Preventive Services Task Force 2012 ); creating and enforcing clean air policies ( Hopkins et al. 2010 ); and passing comprehensive laws prohibiting sales to minors, combined with active enforcement ( Community Preventive Services Task Force 2001 ). In addition, based on evidence that new e-cigarette products may addict a generation of young people to nicotine ( Bunnell et al. 2015 ; CDC 2015b ) and on mounting indications about potential harm from the use of these products in this population ( Flouris et al. 2013 ; Barrington-Trimis et al. 2014 ; Goniewicz et al. 2014 ; Grana et al. 2014a ; Pisinger and Dossing 2014 ; Goniewicz and Lee 2015 ), numerous health organizations have called for the extension of smoking-related policies to e-cigarettes ( Association of State and Territorial Health Officials 2014 ; Bam et al. 2014 ; Bhatnagar et al. 2014 ; Offermann 2014 ; Schraufnagel et al. 2014 ; World Health Organization 2014a ; Brandon et al. 2015a ; USDHHS 2015 ). In the absence of causal findings that have guided evidence-based tobacco control for decades, the “precautionary principle” is relevant to decision makers as a guide to action to address e-cigarettes among youth and young adults. This principle supports intervention to avoid possible health risks when the potential risks remain uncertain and have been as yet partially undefined ( Bialous and Sarma 2014 ; Saitta et al. 2014 ; Hagopian et al. 2015 ). However, the interventions should be appropriate to the currently perceived risk for future health consequences, in this case from e-cigarette use by youth, young adults, and pregnant women, as well as from the secondhand exposure of non-users to e-cigarette vapor.

Clean Indoor Air Policies

Clean indoor air or smokefree policies prohibit the use of conventional tobacco products in indoor public places, such as worksites, restaurants, bars, and casinos. Because most of these policies predate the rise of e-cigarettes, their language does not necessarily cover emissions from these products. To protect the public from both secondhand smoke and secondhand aerosol, smokefree air policies should be modernized to include e-cigarettes. Such policies will maintain current standards for clean indoor air, reduce the potential for renormalization of tobacco product use, and prevent involuntary exposure to nicotine and other aerosolized emissions from e-cigarettes ( Ingebrethsen et al. 2012 ; Schripp et al. 2013 ; Goniewicz et al. 2014 ; Offermann 2014 ; Schober et al. 2014 ). Updating existing policies to cover e-cigarettes (and all electronic nicotine delivery systems) will eliminate the introduction of airborne toxins into enclosed spaces and establish a uniform standard for preventing the use of both combustible and electronic tobacco products in public and private spaces, including schools, offices, restaurants, bars, casinos, and airplanes.

Prohibiting the use of e-cigarettes in enclosed spaces eliminates potential health risks to nonusers and ensures their right to clean air; may discourage the dual use of electronic and combustible tobacco products; simplifies public compliance with and enforcement of existing clean indoor air laws; facilitates reduced consumption of these products; and maintains clear, comprehensive non-smoking norms ( Richardson et al. 2014 ; World Health Organization 2014a ). As of January 1, 2016, six states (Delaware, Hawaii, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, and Utah) had passed comprehensive smokefree indoor air laws that include e-cigarettes ( CDC 2015a ). These laws prohibit smoking and the use of e-cigarettes in indoor areas of private worksites, restaurants, and bars. Sixteen additional states had prohibited the use of e-cigarettes on some or all state property, and 475 local laws restricted e-cigarette use in 100% smokefree venues ( Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation 2015 ). Nationwide, more than 400 local jurisdictions prohibit e-cigarette use in 100%-smokefree workplaces ( Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation 2015 ). Major cities that have addressed e-cigarettes include Austin, Boston, El Paso, Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, San Francisco, and New York City.

Prevent Youth Access

Ensuring that laws on youth access include e-cigarettes is intended to protect youth from exposure to nicotine, which can lead to addiction and other health problems. Additionally, ensuring that these laws include e-cigarettes helps to capture the full diversity of the tobacco product landscape, including combustible, non-combustible, and electronic tobacco products. Effective strategies to deter access to e-cigarettes by youth and the use of these products in this population include restricting sales of e-cigarettes to minors, requiring verification of age, mandating clear signage about minimum age where sales take place, prohibiting the sale of e-cigarettes from vending machines, eliminating self-service displays of e-cigarettes, and actively enforcing existing laws with a focus on retailers. Compliance with laws that regulate the sale and distribution of e-cigarettes is facilitated by requiring retailers to be licensed. To date, 46 states have prohibited the sale of e-cigarettes to minors younger than a specified age ( National Conference of State Legislatures 2015 ; The Council of State Governments 2015 ). Federally, aligning youth tobacco access control regulations with the statutory definition of tobacco products in the Tobacco Control Act, which includes e-cigarettes, could provide consistent framework to help ensure that restrictions on youth access to e-cigarettes are prioritized and enforced ( Federal Register 2016 ). This could include modifications to the Synar regulation, which requires states, U.S. territories, and jurisdictions to enact and enforce laws prohibiting the sale or distribution of tobacco products to youth. Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant recipients must comply with the Synar amendment and implement regulations in order to receive their full awards ( U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Tobacco Products n.d. ).

Licensing is used to regulate professional practice and business operations and represents one strategy to control the rising use of e-cigarettes among youth. In general, in the case of tobacco-related licensing, a business is authorized to manufacture, distribute, or sell tobacco products as long as it complies with all relevant laws ( McLaughlin 2010 ). Typically, tobacco-related licensing requirements for retailers and/or manufacturers help to prevent evasion of excise taxes, ensure that licensees comply with tobacco-related laws, and promote safe manufacturing practices ( ChangeLab Solutions 2012 ). Repeat violators of relevant laws may be subject to suspension or permanent revocation of their license, an outcome that provides a strong incentive to comply with existing requirements. As in the conventional cigarette industry, licensing of e-cigarette retailers and manufacturers is designed in part to prevent the use of these products by youth and to facilitate safe manufacturing practices. Unlike traditional tobacco products, for which retailers sell prepackaged products and the number of manufacturers is limited, a growing number of businesses engage in both the retail sale and manufacturing of devices and liquids used in the devices (e-liquids). Stores devoted exclusively to the sale of e-cigarettes are known as “vape shops.” These shops frequently offer a social environment for using products, and they may also sell food and beverages ( Sussman et al. 2014 ).

As of April 2015, 99 cities and counties in California required a retailer to obtain a license to sell e-cigarettes. The majority of these jurisdictions did so by broadening the definition of tobacco products to include “electronic smoking devices” ( ChangeLab Solutions 2015a ). The definition was purposely broadened to include products that do not include nicotine to decrease the complexity of enforcement and in recognition of the fact that e-cigarette devices are sometimes used with liquids that do not contain nicotine but may contain marijuana oil ( The Center for Tobacco Policy & Organizing 2015a ). Licensing requirements also may be used to restrict the sale of flavored products or to address issues of consumer and worker safety relative to the mixing of e-liquids.

Imposing a moratorium is another potential approach that has been used in some communities to stop new “vape shops” from entering the market while a more comprehensive approach was being considered. A moratorium is a land-use law that takes effect immediately to stop temporarily the issuance of a business license, building permit, or use permit. Typically, a moratorium is enacted to provide a jurisdiction with time to research and study how to regulate a type of business ( ChangeLab Solutions 2015b ). In California, several communities enacted moratoria that are initially 45 days but can be extended for up to 2 years ( ChangeLab Solutions 2014 , 2015b ). A four-fifths vote, however, is required to establish a moratorium in California. Hayward and Union City, California, are examples of cities that have enacted moratoria and later adopted both retail licensing requirements for existing e-cigarette retailers and zoning restrictions to prohibit new vapor and hookah bars and lounges from opening within city limits ( ChangeLab Solutions 2014 ; The Center for Tobacco Policy & Organizing 2015b ).

Taxation and Other Price Policies

  • A “specific” excise tax is levied based on the quantity of the product sold (e. g ., as measured by number of cigarettes, weight, or volume). This type of mechanism applies the same tax across low-end and premium brands and is generally simple to administer. The disadvantages to specific excise taxes are that the real value of the tax declines over time with inflation, making products more affordable, and that super-lightweight products—such as snus, orbs, sticks, and dissolvables—are grossly under-taxed if the tax is based on weight ( Freiberg 2012 ; Boonn 2013 ; Shang et al. 2015 ).
  • The second tax mechanism is an ad valorem excise tax, which is levied on a percentage of the value of the tobacco product (e. g ., the retailer’s, wholesaler’s, or manufacturer’s price). This type of tax keeps up with inflation and establishes a flat tax rate across all brands, product types, weights, and packaging. The disadvantages to this kind of tax include the potential for tax evasion through predatory (below-cost) or anticompetitive pricing; increasing the price differential between products with different pretax prices, leading to greater price variability and more opportunity for tax avoidance; a government-provided subsidy for manufacturers’ price cuts; and more expensive brands being subjected to a larger tax ( Freiberg 2012 ; Boonn 2013 ; Shang et al. 2015 ).

Governments use uniform, tiered, and mixed-tax approaches to implement specific and ad valorem tobacco excise taxes. Uniform systems apply the same tax rate across all products; tiered systems levy taxes based on such product characteristics as toxicity, nicotine content, type of production (handmade versus machine made), sales volume, packaging, or whether the products are domestic or imported; and mixed systems use a combination of uniform and tiered-tax approaches ( Shang et al. 2015 ). Tiered-tax approaches, such as those based on nicotine content, could steer consumers to a less toxic product or one with lower nicotine ( Benowitz 2014 ). Tiered-tax approaches are more complex to administer and may provide greater opportunity for tax evasion as a result of manipulation of the product or its packaging by the manufacturer ( Shang et al. 2015 ). In recognition of nicotine’s toxicity, particularly to youth, several health groups have endorsed imposing excise taxes on e-cigarettes to discourage their use by youth ( American Thoracic Society 2013 ; Association of State and Territorial Health Officials 2014 ; Bhatnagar et al. 2014 ; Brandon et al. 2015a ; Crowley and Health Public Policy Committee of the American College of Physicians 2015 ; National Association of County and City Health Officials 2014 ). E-cigarettes are likely less toxic than combustible products (such as conventional cigarettes), and therefore, some contend should be taxed at a lower rate ( Benowitz 2014 ; Bhatnagar et al. 2014 ). Yet others argue that e-cigarettes should be taxed at the same rate as other tobacco products ( Freiberg 2012 ; American Thoracic Society 2013 ; National Association of County and City Health Officials April 2014 ).

As of January 2016, four states (Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, and North Carolina) and six localities (Juneau, Matanuska-Susitna, Petersburg, and Sitka, Alaska; Montgomery County, Maryland; and Chicago, Illinois) had enacted e-cigarette taxation policies. Minnesota’s ad valorem tobacco tax equates to 95% of the wholesale cost of any product containing or derived from tobacco ( Minnesota Revenue 2014 ; Tobacco Control Legal Consortium 2015 ). It taxes e-liquids and e-cigarettes sold with nicotine cartridges that cannot be removed (i.e., disposables). In Minnesota, devices without a nicotine cartridge are not taxed as a tobacco product. On the other hand, North Carolina applies a specific excise tax, taxing e-liquids based on volume at 5 cents per milliliter ( National Conference of State Legislatures 2015 ).

The Tobacco Control Legal Consortium, which is based at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota, recommends using an ad valorem tax for e-cigarettes applied at the retail level to the “essential” components of these devices. The tax is simple, captures both disposable and refillable devices, and could exclude accessories and universal parts sold separately, such as batteries or charging cords ( Tobacco Control Legal Consortium 2015 ).

Numerous major health organizations support raising the price of e-cigarettes through non-tax options, such as limiting rebates, discounts, and coupons ( Freiberg 2012 ; Association of State and Territorial Health Officials 2014 ; Bhatnagar et al. 2014 ; Huang et al. 2014 ; Brandon et al. 2015a ).

Finally, Chaloupka and colleagues (2015) have proposed that differential taxation of tobacco products can be used to incentivize a move away from combustible products to less hazardous noncombustible products, including e-cigarettes. They have argued that taxation could be part of a harm-reduction system. In their view, future determinations by FDA as to whether a product poses a substantially reduced risk would be one criterion in determining the relative rate of taxation.

Restrictions on Marketing

As described in Chapter 4 , the marketing of e-cigarettes drives consumer demand for these products. Such marketing also may promote misperceptions about the safety and efficacy of these products for use as cessation devices ( Choi and Forster 2014 ; Mark et al. 2015 ; Pokhrel et al. 2015 ). For some populations—such as pregnant women, adolescents, former smokers, and young adults—the adverse health consequences of nicotine intake are substantial. Several groups have supported extending marketing restrictions that apply to conventional cigarettes and other tobacco products to e-cigarettes ( Association of State and Territorial Health Officials 2014 ; Bam et al. 2014 ; Bhatnagar et al. 2014 ; Partnership for Prevention 2014 ; Brandon et al. 2015a ). Significant barriers still exist to regulating commercial speech, including the First Amendment rights of the e-cigarette companies ( Laird-Metke 2010 ).

Additionally, for traditional tobacco products, partial advertising bans and voluntary agreements have generally been ineffective in reducing consumption because the tobacco industry circumvents the restrictions by shifting the marketing platforms used to unregulated platforms ( National Cancer Institute 2008 ). This response would be expected to be similar with regard to e-cigarettes. Therefore, despite the numerous barriers, public health groups and state, local, tribal, and territorial governments should take steps to stem the proliferation of e-cigarette marketing likely to appeal to young people by using tools designed to curb youth-oriented tobacco marketing and expanding evidence to inform future restrictions on the marketing of e-cigarettes to youth and young adults.

Surveillance of e-cigarette marketing, performing content analyses of the messages used, and conducting studies to assess the link between exposure to e-cigarette marketing and the use of e-cigarette products, particularly among youth and young adults, will facilitate the development of an evidence base of the type that informed prior federal and Master Settlement Agreement restrictions on tobacco advertising. Observations of retailers’ practices, assessments of outdoor advertising, and identification of event sponsorships and promotional activities at bars and community events are actions that state, local, tribal, and territorial public health agencies have taken related to traditional tobacco products. Many of these actions can be adapted to monitor and document the presence of e-cigarette marketing in communities ( Pucci et al. 1998 ; Feighery et al. 2001 ; Rigotti et al. 2005 ; Roeseler et al. 2010 ; Rose et al. 2014 ).

In the absence of legal restrictions on e-cigarette marketing, and apart from the issue of the previous promulgation by some companies of unsubstantiated health and cessation claims, public health groups can advocate for television and radio broadcasters, print and outdoor media companies, the management of event venues and sports events, digital media outlets, retailers, and others to voluntarily refuse to air or place e-cigarette advertising, offer sponsorships, or give out free samples at fairs and festivals. Although the impact of a voluntary approach may be low, such actions raise awareness, build concern, and help to denormalize the proliferation of e-cigarette marketing. In California, surveillance plus voluntary efforts to promote restrictions on sponsorship of events by the tobacco industry facilitated a modest decline in tobacco industry-sponsored events and youth-oriented activities at those events that promoted the interests of the tobacco companies, and it led to a productive partnership with the tobacco litigation unit of the California attorney general’s office that resulted in several settlements with tobacco companies ( Roeseler et al. 2010 ).

State, local, tribal, and territorial public health agencies may be able to contribute to the stimulation of enforcement and compliance with existing rules that constrain marketing. Some states have brought lawsuits against e-cigarette companies, alleging that distributors of these products violated state law by selling to minors or making unsubstantiated health claims; some of those lawsuits resulted in financial damages and agreements to stop making claims that e-cigarettes are safer than conventional cigarettes unless confirmed by rigorous science ( Center for Public Health and Tobacco Policy 2013 ).

Finally, another area to address is the use of “advertorials” employed by e-cigarette retailers to promote cessation and health claims. Advertorials are paid advertisements designed to look like an independent editorial. Although there are no specific rules for how a publisher should distinguish actual editorial content from paid editorial content in terms of their appearance, the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) stated in an advisory opinion that disclosure of the source is necessary when content “uses the format and has the general appearance of a news feature and/or article for public information which purports to give an independent, impartial and unbiased view” ( Federal Register 1972 , p. 154). Additionally, paid advertising must be disclosed clearly and conspicuously in a manner that is understandable to consumers ( FTC 1984 ). State and local public health agencies can play an important role by monitoring and providing substantiation to their state attorney general or FTC regarding advertising that makes improper claims or is not clearly identified as advertising.

Educational Initiatives

The extensive data reviewed in Chapter 2 highlighted the limited knowledge that members of the general public, particularly adolescents and young adults, have about e-cigarettes and their potential for nicotine addiction and other adverse health consequences. FDA has jurisdiction for product warnings that can reach users, but that agency, along with other federal entities and state and local governmental and nongovernmental organizations, can also carry out educational campaigns to enhance such limited knowledge levels. Potentially effective initiatives with youth and young adults to prevent smoking were reviewed in the 2012 Surgeon General’s report and may be applicable to preventing e-cigarette use. That report concluded that sufficient evidence exists to conclude that mass media campaigns, comprehensive community programs, comprehensive statewide tobacco control programs, and school-based programs that have shown evidence of effectiveness, if they contain specific components, can produce at least short-term effects and reduce the prevalence of tobacco use among school-aged youth ( USDHHS 2012 ).

Implications for Health Care Practice

Although the issues are not well documented, health care practitioners face questions about e-cigarettes from their patients and their communities, including what are the risks of using e-cigarettes, how do these risks compare with those of cigarettes or other combustible products, and is e-cigarette use an effective way to quit smoking? Chapter 3 set out the limited evidence base related to these questions. Clinicians need to respond to these questions and guide their patients in the context of considerable uncertainty. At this time, practitioners can turn to the various statements from medical organizations, which generally urge caution regarding e-cigarettes and do not find the evidence to be supportive of their use for cessation or for formal harm-reduction strategies ( Table 5.3 ). In fact, any recommendation to use e-cigarettes for the cessation of smoking is not supported by the bulk of the available scientific evidence ( Hartmann-Boyce et al. 2016 ). Both the American Association of Cancer Research and the American Society of Clinical Oncology recommend against advising the use of e-cigarettes for cessation ( Brandon et al. 2015b ). The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force found that there is insufficient evidence that e-cigarettes are an effective smoking cessation tool in adults, including pregnant women ( Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 2015 ).

The clinical care setting is a critical venue for taking evidence-based approaches for enhancing smoking cessation and increasing the protection of susceptible groups against exposure to secondhand smoke ( USDHHS 2014 ). However, research on e-cigarettes in relation to this set of venues is lacking and urgently needed. Regardless, some pragmatic approaches have been proposed. For example, the American Academy of Pediatrics ( AAP ) gives advice on how pediatricians can approach questioning about the use of e-cigarettes. As of October 2015, the AAP’s position on e-cigarettes is that sales to minors should be prohibited; flavors that appeal to youth should be prohibited; and measures against the use of e-cigarette products need to be included in requirements for maintaining smoke-free environments, such as in restaurants and workplaces ( AAP 2015a ).

Table 5.3. Medical organizations.

Medical organizations.

  • Case Studies

Case studies in California and North Dakota demonstrate how e-cigarette policies have been enacted at the local and state levels, and they provide potential models of how cities, counties, and other states might address e-cigarettes in their jurisdictions.

City of Hayward Takes Bold Steps to Address Tobacco Products Aimed at Kids.

North Dakota’s Statewide Clean Indoor Air Law Prohibits Conventional Tobacco Products and E-Cigarettes.

  • Summary and Recommendations

The Surgeon General has long played a leading role in identifying the harms of tobacco use and documenting the most effective ways to reduce them. This report comes amid the rising use of e-cigarettes among the nation’s youth and young adults. It calls attention to this problem and the need to implement immediately a comprehensive strategy to minimize any negative public health impact now and in the future, giving consideration to the potential for youth to be harmed from e-cigarettes while, simultaneously, acknowledging that gains might be made if the use of combustible tobacco products fell among adult smokers. Chapters 1 – 4 documented the particular challenges posed by the rapid emergence and dynamic nature of e-cigarette use among youth and young adults. The marketplace is diverse, and although it includes the large tobacco companies, e-cigarettes are sold in thousands of “vape shops” and other small commercial locations and on the Internet. Marketing strategies exploit social media, reaching widely and with tailored targeting to consumers.

The differences notwithstanding, the principles and strategies articulated in the 2014 Surgeon General’s report and prior reports remain relevant to e-cigarettes. The 2014 report was written not long after the use of e-cigarettes began to surge dramatically; that report commented on the need for rapid elimination of conventional cigarettes and other combustible tobacco products but did not specify a role for e-cigarettes or discuss strategies to minimize adverse effects among youth and young adults ( USDHHS 2014 ). The report’s final chapter, however, set out an evidence-based strategy for the future. The present report builds on this foundation, adding recommendations related to e-cigarettes.

  • Conclusions
  • The dynamic nature of the e-cigarette landscape calls for expansion and enhancement of tobacco-related surveillance to include (a) tracking patterns of use in priority populations; (b) monitoring the characteristics of the retail market; (c) examining policies at the national, state, local, tribal, and territorial levels; (d) examining the channels and messaging for marketing e-cigarettes in order to more fully understand the impact future regulations could have; and (e) searching for sentinel health events in youth and young adult e-cigarette users, while longer-term health consequences are tracked.
  • Strategic, comprehensive research is critical to identify and characterize the potential health risks from e-cigarette use, particularly among youth and young adults.
  • The adoption of public health strategies that are precautionary to protect youth and young adults from adverse effects related to e-cigarettes is justified.
  • A broad program of behavioral, communications, and educational research is crucial to assess how youth perceive e-cigarettes and associated marketing messages, and to determine what kinds of tobacco control communication strategies and channels are most effective.
  • Health professionals represent an important channel for education about e-cigarettes, particularly for youth and young adults.
  • Diverse actions, modeled after evidence-based tobacco control strategies, can be taken at the state, local, tribal, and territorial levels to address e-cigarette use among youth and young adults, including incorporating e-cigarettes into smoke-free policies; preventing the access of youth to e-cigarettes; price and tax policies; retail licensure; regulation of e-cigarette marketing that is likely to attract youth and young adults, to the extent feasible under the law; and educational initiatives targeting youth and young adults. Among others, research focused on policy, economics, and the e-cigarette industry will aid in the development and implementation of evidence-based strategies and best practices.
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Public Health Communication: Quit Smoking Essay

Smoking is considered to be one of the most burning problems of modern society. Cigarettes kill so many people each year that it turns out to be very difficult to present concrete numbers concerning how many Americans die because of smoking. People know a lot about the risk of dying because of lung cancer, caused by smoking, however, they still continue smoking and do not pay attention to really useful information and warnings. To my mind, observing the effects of smoking by means of pictures should help to evaluate how dangerous smoking could be and what should be done to prevent deaths because of smoking.

A smouldering cigarette in an ashtray.

The approaches, I choose to evaluate the problem of smoking, present a clear picture of smoking and its effects on people. A smoldering cigarette (Picture # 1) does not present certain danger; and even when a person smokes (Picture # 2), people do not feel any fear or loathing.

However, when we see an embryo with a cigarette (Picture # 3) and comprehend how smoking is dangerous to unborn children, some terrible emotions appear, and smoking does not seem so simple and harmless. This is why the only thing people should do is to quit smoking and start smiling (Picture # 4).

A person smokes.

A smoker promotes own life’s end; this person does not have a face or even gender (Picture # 2). Smoking is dangerous to people and deprives them from a chance to live long and happy. The tone of my message by means of these photos is not about fear, but about the reality that is around people.

It is about smoking as something integral to this life, as something that has a certain impact even on not yet born people. This is why, in order to prevent a disaster, we should quit smoking, become healthy, and start smiling. These photos create a kind of emotional imagery that demonstrates how influential smoking can be.

Baby smokes in the womb.

The audience for these photos may be rather different: teenagers, who find smoking not dangerous; mothers, who should care about their future and current children; old people, who should serve as good examples and promote young people to drop this terrible habit.

In fact, these pictures can be interesting and useful to everyone from different places, who are just interested in making this world healthier and safer. Smoking is a disaster, and people should be ready to fight against it.

Woman breaks a cigarette.

The Pictures # 2 and 4 are taken from the Internet; the Picture # 3 is from one scientific web-article that tells how smoking is dangerous to kinds. The Picture # 1 is taken from a local campaign. The person, who smokes this cigarette, does not want to be recognized, because he is not proud of what he is doing and thinks how to drop this bad habit soon.

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IvyPanda. (2018, May 8). Public Health Communication: Quit Smoking. https://ivypanda.com/essays/public-health-communication-quit-smoking/

"Public Health Communication: Quit Smoking." IvyPanda , 8 May 2018, ivypanda.com/essays/public-health-communication-quit-smoking/.

IvyPanda . (2018) 'Public Health Communication: Quit Smoking'. 8 May.

IvyPanda . 2018. "Public Health Communication: Quit Smoking." May 8, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/public-health-communication-quit-smoking/.

1. IvyPanda . "Public Health Communication: Quit Smoking." May 8, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/public-health-communication-quit-smoking/.

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IvyPanda . "Public Health Communication: Quit Smoking." May 8, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/public-health-communication-quit-smoking/.

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  1. Essay on Smoking in English for Students

    500 Words Essay On Smoking. One of the most common problems we are facing in today's world which is killing people is smoking. A lot of people pick up this habit because of stress, personal issues and more. In fact, some even begin showing it off. When someone smokes a cigarette, they not only hurt themselves but everyone around them.

  2. Tobacco Smoking and Its Dangers

    Introduction. Tobacco use, including smoking, has become a universally recognized issue that endangers the health of the population of our entire planet through both active and second-hand smoking. Pro-tobacco arguments are next to non-existent, while its harm is well-documented and proven through past and contemporary studies (Jha et al., 2013).

  3. 235 Smoking Essay Topics & Titles for Smoking Essay + Examples

    Here we've gathered a range of catchy titles for research papers about smoking together with smoking essay examples. Get inspired with us! Smoking is a well-known source of harm yet popular regardless, and so smoking essays should cover various aspects of the topic to identify the reasons behind the trend. You will want to discuss the causes ...

  4. Examples & Tips for Writing a Persuasive Essay About Smoking

    Persuasive Essay Examples About Smoking. Smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable death in the world. It leads to adverse health effects, including lung cancer, heart disease, and damage to the respiratory tract. However, the number of people who smoke cigarettes has been on the rise globally. A lot has been written on topics related ...

  5. Introduction, Conclusions, and the Evolving Landscape of Smoking

    In addition, the reach of smoking cessation interventions has increased substantially since 1990 with the emergence of innovative, population-level interventions and policies that motivate smokers to quit and raise awareness of the health benefits of smoking cessation (McAfee et al. 2013).This includes policies, such as comprehensive smokefree laws, that have been shown to promote cessation at ...

  6. Importance of Quitting Smoking

    Quitting smoking is therefore an important way of regaining self confidence by doing away with the embarrassing smell of cigarette smoke. Quitting smoking is an important way of shedding off the worry of the constant coughs and short breath brought about by smoking (Quit Smoking Review para 2-3). Quitting smoking comes with a myriad of benefits ...

  7. Essay on Quitting Smoking

    250 Words Essay on Quitting Smoking The Relevance of Quitting Smoking. Smoking is a global public health concern, with millions succumbing to its ill effects annually. Despite the known dangers, the addiction is challenging to overcome due to nicotine's addictive nature. However, quitting smoking is a crucial step towards improved health and ...

  8. How to Quit Smoking

    Start your stop smoking plan with START. S = Set a quit date. Choose a date within the next two weeks, so you have enough time to prepare without losing your motivation to quit. If you mainly smoke at work, quit on the weekend, so you have a few days to adjust to the change. T = Tell family, friends, and co-workers that you plan to quit.

  9. The Challenges of Quitting Smoking: [Essay Example], 509 words

    Stopping smoking is the start of the program that may help cleanse the body after many years of toxin development. Smoking causes buildup of toxins within the body particularly in the lungs. Once somebody quits smoking, the body attempts to eradicate the damaging chemicals which might have accumulated overtime.

  10. Quitting Smoking: Strategies for Success

    Making positive lifestyle changes can support the quitting process. Regular exercise, healthy eating, and stress management techniques can all help smokers manage cravings and stay focused on their goal of quitting smoking. Incorporating positive habits into daily life can be challenging, but it is an important step in achieving long-term success.

  11. Smoking Persuasive Speech: [Essay Example], 545 words

    The detrimental effects of smoking on health are well-documented, yet the habit persists in many societies. This persuasive speech aims to address the issue of smoking and advocate for its cessation. The thesis of this speech is that smoking is a harmful and addictive habit that not only negatively impacts the individual's health but also has ...

  12. Quitting Smoking Essay Example

    Smoking is one of the habits that one can be badly addicted to. Smoking is a habit that is too difficult to quit. In a smoker's life for instance, it can be a very big step for one to quit smoking, unfortunately this step is not easy to take. This does not recognize whether you are a teen smoker or whether you have smoked all your life.

  13. Introduction, Summary, and Conclusions

    Tobacco use is a global epidemic among young people. As with adults, it poses a serious health threat to youth and young adults in the United States and has significant implications for this nation's public and economic health in the future (Perry et al. 1994; Kessler 1995). The impact of cigarette smoking and other tobacco use on chronic disease, which accounts for 75% of American spending ...

  14. Smoking: Effects, Risks, Diseases, Quitting & Solutions

    Smoking is the practice of inhaling smoke from burning plant material. Nicotine works on your brain to create a relaxing, pleasurable feeling that makes it tough to quit. But smoking tobacco puts you at risk for cancer, stroke, heart attack, lung disease and other health issues. Nicotine replacements and lifestyle changes may help you quit.

  15. Building habits that are helping people quit smoking

    BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Smoking is the number one cause of preventable disease. If you want to quit but are having trouble - leaders at UAB have tips on building new habits that can help along ...

  16. A Revolutionary Attack on Tobacco: Bolshevik Antismoking Campaigns in

    Abstract. Using archival records of the Commissariat of Public Health, journals, and propaganda materials from the antismoking campaign of the Soviet 1920s, this article argues that the revolutionary state pursued an antitobacco policy unique in the world in its attack on tobacco use at a national scale. The commissar of public health, Nikolai ...

  17. Quitting Smoking: Strategies and Consequences Essay

    Outcomes. Quitting smoking makes an individual free of the several cancers associated with smoking. More so, the person experiences improved income management due to reduced expenditure on smoking. The whole society is also safe from the effects of perceiving smoking. Fires resulting from irresponsible smoking are also reduced.

  18. Health Effects of Vaping

    Here's what we know now: Most e-cigarettes, or vapes, contain nicotine—the addictive substance in cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products. 18. Nicotine is a health danger for pregnant people and is toxic to developing fetuses. 1 14. Nicotine can damage a fetus's developing brain and lungs. 13. E-cigarette use during pregnancy has been ...

  19. thebmj.com Read reader responses to this essay at bit.ly/1e6qiss E

    to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which will be held on 13-18 October 2014 in Moscow. In this essay, I consider the best and worst case scenarios for e-cigarettes; claims that they assist in smoking cessation and their value if users con - tinue to smoke; and, finally, the tobacco indus - try's interests in these products.

  20. Essays About Smoking

    Encourage smokers to quit by outlining the benefits of quitting smoking and offering resources for those who want to quit. Smoking: Argumentative Essay The purpose of a smoking argumentative essay is to persuade the reader to take a particular stance on the topic of smoking. The writer should present an argument and use evidence to support ...

  21. Up in Smoke? The Politics and Health Consequences of Tobacco in Today's

    Twigg cited a tobacco industry journal report in 1998 summarizing the promise of the Russian market: "Anti-tobacco activists are almost unknown in Russia, so the Russian people and government have not been bombarded with anti-tobacco propaganda." "Smokers are reliant almost exclusively on their doctors for help in quitting smoking," Twigg stated.

  22. E-Cigarette Use Among Youth

    Most middle and high school students who vape want to quit and have tried to quit. 5 In 2020: 63.9% of students who currently used e-cigarettes reported wanting to quit. 67.4% of students who currently used e-cigarettes reported trying to quit in the last year. Most tobacco use, including vaping, starts and is established during adolescence.

  23. Personal Stories: How Nicotine Pouches Have Helped Real People to Quit

    Approximately 53% of smokers tried to quit, according to this 2022 report and with tobacco killing a whopping 8 million people a year, for so many, stubbing out that final cigarette is essential. The smoking cessation market is huge - there are still 1.3 billion people globally who light up cigarettes every single day, but a lot of products ...

  24. People Should Quit Smoking

    Jorenby (346) asserts that smoking is a "disease" like any other, but can be cured when fitting strategies are observed. Besides draining one financially, smoking is a major cause of killer diseases such as; heart and lung cancer. We will write a custom essay on your topic. Hammerle (86) also cites destructions such as; bushfires ...

  25. 8 Strategies to Use if You Want to Quit Smoking in 2024

    Chantix and Zyban are two popular prescription medications for smoking cessation that you can discuss with your doctor. Pfizer shared research on the. effectiveness of Chantix. , with various ...

  26. Menstrual Hormones May Make it Harder for Women to Quit Smoking

    Sex hormones are partly to blame for this gender discrepancy. Women who try to quit smoking before they ovulate tend to experience a higher risk of relapse, stronger withdrawal symptoms, and more ...

  27. E-Cigarette Policy and Practice Implications

    The previous chapters have set out what is currently known and not known about e-cigarettes. Despite the identified gaps in evidence and the dynamic, evolving patterns of the use of e-cigarettes, policy options are needed. These policy options are particularly important as they affect the use of e-cigarettes by youth and young adults. As this report has demonstrated, e-cigarettes are widely ...

  28. DH launches Quit in June campaign in support of World No Tobacco Day

    The Department of Health (DH) announced today (May 27) that the Quit in June campaign will be launched in support of May 31 as World No Tobacco Day. The campaign encourages smokers to attempt to quit in order to reduce the risk of tobacco-related diseases and deaths. The World Health Organization marks May 31 as World No Tobacco Day annually to ...

  29. Quit-Smoking Drug Chantix May Also Help Folks Stop Vaping

    TUESDAY, May 21, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- A quit-smoking drug appears to help people drop their vaping addiction, a new study shows.. Vapers who took varenicline (Chantix) were significantly more likely to quit using e-cigarettes loaded with nicotine than those randomly assigned to receive a placebo, researchers found. "We had a 15 percent difference in quit rates, with those in the ...

  30. Public Health Communication: Quit Smoking Essay

    This is why the only thing people should do is to quit smoking and start smiling (Picture # 4). Picture #2. A smoker promotes own life's end; this person does not have a face or even gender (Picture # 2). Smoking is dangerous to people and deprives them from a chance to live long and happy.