BY: Firdous Ahmad Lone
Tobacco is a plant that grows natively in North and South America. Columbus in 1492 was offered dried Tobacco as a gift from American Indians. Soon after the sailors took it back to Europe, the plant became a fascination and quickly dominated the agricultural lands all over Europe. The plant, it was said, was magical when dried and smoked and thus began the story of a terrible trend that has already consumed more lives than any other disease!
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‘No Tobacco day’ is observed all over the world on 31st of May every year ever since, on 15th May 1987, the World Health Organization (WHO) passed a resolution in this regard and being fully aware of the health hazards of tobacco consumption began pressing countries to observe the calendar event with seriousness and determination.
In a recent study it was suggested that in Indian more than 50% of the population smoke cigarettes and, or, consume tobacco in various forms including chewing tobacco leaves. smoking is responsible for more than 14000 deaths per day and about 500000 deaths per year in united States alone. Globally, tobacco causes six million deaths per year. That’s one death every five seconds and by 2030, if the trend continues, the number of deaths will rise to eight million.
Initially allured by the very image of a ‘smoker’ as depicted by the popular cinema and other mediums, young boys and girls fall into this trap and begin competing with one another. It is also an established fact that from smoking cigarettes to moving ahead and picking up other drugs is also very common. The temptation once answered usually leaves us in this quagmire for rest of our lives.
Smoking cigarettes is one of the worst habits which poses the worst threats to our health apart from draining us economically.
A single cigarette contains 8-19 milligrams of nicotine depending upon the flavor and strength of the cigarette and if the same is injected into blood, an individual is sure to die. Smoking causes various respiratory diseases, most common being lung cancer. Pertinently, a cigarette contains about 4000 chemical, 70 of those are responsible for cancer. An individual does not know its ill effects until it is too late.
Can we stop smoking and use of other tobacco products? Anything is possible give strong determination and will. For a Muslim smoker, the month of fasting is probably the best time to stop smoking. We can’t stop it at once but by proceeding step by step we can decrease smoking level to nil.
There is a false impression created about smoking that it reduces tension and depression but it has never been proven scientifically. One thing is for sure that use of tobacco may or may not reduce tension but it definitely reduces life. So beware and think about your health and the health of those who are related with you.
The writer is a class 12th student of Govt. Higher Secondary School Chandilora. The essay was written as part of a workshop organized by Arts in Life Initiative Foundation-ALIF, Chanpora, Tangmarg
