By Shawn Seabrookes
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
The issue of cigarette smoking has been hotly debated in various circles throughout the island, since the apparent increase in smoking among young people in the twin island state.
The first part of the effort to draw awareness to how hazardous smoking is to one’s health foused on the various ills that smoking contributes to but this second article visits a doctor’s standpoint.
Interestingly, a smoker was asked if his doctor told him to stop smoking if he would comply, and astonishingly, he said no.
“Look at it, a lot of them doctors do smoke you know. Imagine one of them telling me to stop smoking. You have to practice what you preach,” he said.
Perhaps such a response surmises the society we live, where every possible excuse is taken to defend bad habits.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Patrick Martin, says that there should be policies in place to govern smoking in public places. This should be complemented by continuous dissemination of information to amplify the dangers of smoking.
“The reality of situation is that we cannot enforce a ban on smoking, but probably what can be done is to ban smoking in certain areas- government offices and work places,” Dr. Martin stated. ~~Adz:Right~~
“Smoking anything is hazardous to your health and inhalation of second hand smoke is just as hazardous to your health,” the CMO added.
He partially blamed the marketing strategies of cigarette manufacturers for the apparent increase in smoking, especially among young people. These strategies lure and pressure young people, giving them the impression that smoking is a thrilling and pleasurable activity.
He pointed out that peer pressure impales the ability of young people to think positively and maturely, overriding the intelligent assessment of health information.
Smoking is not only a social problem. It is definitely a liability when it comes to economic development as monies that could be used for social development have to be injected into the health sector o cover medical costs, which have been incurred directly because of smoking.
Indeed, one cannot be governed by ignorance when it comes to such a pertinent issue as smoking. A country’s most prized resource is its people!
