The little white stick– that kills.

I’m always on the streets of London; whether I’m commuting to work, doing errands, or just shopping, I have to always encounter that deadly cancer stick, formerly known as the cigarette.

Someone, please, enlighten me on the benefits of smoking? Name one. Because I really don’t see anything attractive about putting a stick in my mouth that will slowly destroy my lungs. I mean, unless you want lung cancer, emphysema, or lung disease, then hey, go for it. Otherwise, what is the real deal with smoking?

It’s become such a social act—and I do believe that a lot of people do it due to their social surroundings. But even in that, you would rather have a lung full of tar just to gossip about someone? It’s ok to be different. You don’t have to leave your ‘social circle’ just because you don’t do what everyone else does. Second hand smoke, however, is also harmful to health, for anyone that watches the adverts on television.

I may sound biased, but I’m deriving from what I’ve seen myself. Every smoker that I’ve seen on the roads of London, do not look happy when they’re puffing away seconds of their life. Why reach for a cigarette when you’re stressed? What does it do? Why not find the cause of the stress, and cut it out? I mean, I’ve seen pregnant women smoke; we all know smoking has bad affects, so why do it when you’re with child as well?

I had a look at the percentage of people who smoke in Great Britain, and approximately 32% are between the ages of 20-24. I’ve noticed the majority of heavy smokers are around that age. What is it that is forcing people of such a young age to smoke?

Despite the smoking companies plastering the huge ‘Smoking kills’ stickers on the front of the cigarette boxes, people don’t seem to realise how serious it actually is. It does damage to not just your health, but your overall wellbeing! But then can the blame also go to the manufacturing companies for continuing to feed to the addiction by creating a range of them?

I’m leaving the floor open to you, readers. What is the attraction to smoking? Is it a sort of fashion trend? For the people that want to stop, do you remember why you started in the first place?

Speak the truth and let it set you free…