Myths about
Smoking [followed by the truth]
Myth: If you can smell cigarette smoke then the
"bad" parts of the smoke are also there.
Truth: The portion of smoke that you can smell is
only a small fraction of the content but it is also the longest
lasting. Do you really think that because you can smell
"smoke" in your clothes the next day that the smoke is still there
trying to kill you? If so you belong to the neurotic (and
exceedingly stupid) class of antismokers.7
Myth: Second-hand smoke is unfiltered smoke and
therefore worse than the smoke that the smoker is inhaling.
Truth: The smoke that a smoker exhales is what you
are exposed to as the cigarette does not give off significant smoke
while idle. Therefore the smoke has not only been filtered by
the cigarette's filter but also the smoker's respiratory
system.
Myth: A lot of people have an allergy to tobacco
smoke.
Truth: We have looked but been unable to find a
single documented case of an allergy to tobacco smoke. What people
sometimes call an allergy is really a perceived irritation of the
respiratory tract.
Myth: Cigarettes cause lung cancer.
Truth: Cigarettes do not cause cancer but are but one
of many factors that can increase the incidence of lung
cancer. People who have never been exposed to any type of
cigarette smoke still get lung cancer. Not only that but for every
100 lifelong heavy smokers, less than 6 of them would ever get lung
cancer.1,2 Hardly any direct correlation.
Myth: Cigarettes are as addictive as
heroin.
Truth: Not only cigarettes but now also hamburgers
are as addictive as heroin.8 Of course these are
false. Such statements are misinterpretations of
recidivism rates. Basically, these people say that because
someone who stops smoking or eating a hamburger, often have another
cigarette or hamburger down the road at about the same rate as
someone who kicks heroin, that they must therefore be equally
addictive. This is nothing but pure sophistry (the incorrect
use of logic to fool the public). It is also a purposeful
confusion of psychogenic and physical dependence. The 1964
Report of the Surgeon General (p.352) states, "The compulsion (to
smoke) appears to be solely psychogenic since physical dependence
does not develop to nicotine ... nor does tobacco, either during
its use or following withdrawal, create psychotoxic effects which
lead to antisocial behavior.... In contrast to drugs of
addiction, withdrawal from tobacco never constitutes a threat to
life. These facts indicate clearly the absence of physical
dependence."
Myth: Smoking has no medical benefits.
Truth: It helps to prevent the development of
neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's
disease.9-14 It may also be helpful in ADHD,
schizophrenia, and depression.14 Smoking has been
found to be relaxing for beneficial for some anxiety disorders and
people with type A personalities. In fact, taking away
smoking from some subgroups can increase their medical problems and
chance of dying). Smoking like caffeine can help a person get going
in the morning and improve their energy state.7
Though some of the benefits from smoking may be due to some
individual components such as nicotine, studies need to be done and
an effective means of administration needs to be developed.
"Yes, smoking is bad for
you, but so is fast-food hamburgers, driving, and so on. We must
weigh the risk and benefits of the behavior both as a society and
as an individual based on unbiased information. Be warned though,
that a society that attempts to remove all risk terminates
individual liberty and will ultimately perish. Let us be logical in
our endeavors and true in our pursuit of knowledge. Instead of
fearful waiting for lung cancer to get me (because the media and
much of the medical literature has falsely told me that smoking
causes lung cancer), I can enjoy my occasional cigar even more
now...now that I know the whole story."2
http://www.freedom-of-choice.com/AS3.htm
