Kicking butts

Smoking: Addictive, expensive, deadly

By KELSEY BLACKWELL
UNIVERSITY JOURNAL

It’s no secret that smoking increases the chances of getting a variety of cancers as well as the risk of respiratory diseases, however, despite the Surgeon General’s warnings, faculty and students at SUU are finding it hard to quit.
In 1982 the Surgeon General’s report said, “Cigarette smoking is the single cause of cancer mortality in the United States.”
According to the American Cancer Society, that statement still rings true today. The ACS said cigarette smoking is a major cause of cancers of the lung, larynx, oral cavity and esophagus and is a contributing cause in the development of cancers of the bladder, pancreas, uterine cervix, kidney, stomach and some forms of leukemia. About 87 percent of lung cancer deaths are caused by smoking.
Additionally, smoking increases the risk of respiratory diseases such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. The ACS’s Cancer prevention Study II estimates 430,700 United States deaths were attributed to smoking between the years of 1990-1994. That’s essentially one in five people who died from cigarettes.
Smoking kills more American’s than alcohol, car accidents, AIDS, homicide, and illegal drugs, yet in 1999 47 million men and 22 million women were smokers.
According to the ACS, the economic cost of smoking is $3,391 per smoker per year.
Stephen Roberds, associate professor of political science, said he wishes he could quit smoking to save himself money.
“When I think about how much money I’ve wasted, yea, I probably do wish I could, but then if I didn’t smoke I’d probably spend my money on something else foolish, some other vice,” he said. “I know it’s not good for me, but I’m an addict.”
Monica Patten, a junior nursing major from Orem, said since she began smoking she has had a lack of breath and less energy.
“Climbing stairs is impossible,” she said. “Any time I’m in a hurry, I don’t have a lot of energy. I’m embarrassed when people see me. I wish I had never started.”
According to the ACS, smoking is now less socially acceptable than it was in the past. An article in The Salt Lake Tribune said the number of smokers has dropped in Americans over 18 years old from 41.9 percent in 1965 to 23.3 percent as of 2002.
“Studies show that smoking employees cost businesses more to employ because they are ‘out sick’ more frequently,” according to the ACS report. “Employees who are ill more often can raise an employers need for expensive temporary replacement.”
Despite all its harm, smokers have a variety of reasons not to quit. Kohei Uchimuare, a junior computer information systems major from Chiba, Japan, said he has no plans to ever quit his habit.
“I smoke a pack of Marlboros a day,” he said. “So far I haven’t had any health problems. I’m not worried. I don’t think I’ll try to quit. More people in Japan smoke than here.”
Roberds said he is actually doing students a favor by continuing to smoke.
“I continue to smoke so that our students can pay a lower tuition.” he said. “If all the smokers could stop smoking, legislature would have to come up with the money lost from cigarette tax and they would probably take it out of education. Students would end up having to pay more tuition.”
On campus the Wellness Center offers a Fresh Start booklet (donated by the ACS), which provides tips on quitting, to students who want to quit. Students may speak also with Kay Messerly, nurse at the Wellness Center, for prescriptions or advice.