Most smokers light up when they are not in the best mood. Research now shows that in the short term this is true, but after a long period of time smokers can become overwhelmingly hopelessness.
Though the question about which comes first still needs to be answered, an addictions specialist in Vancouver claims that depression only makes the consequences of nicotine worse.
Ray Baker, medical director of Health Quest, a clinic that helps people dealing with addictions, says, "This (depression) makes the hazards of smoking even greater."
Baker explains, "We've always known that in the short term, nicotine acts like an antidepressant. We've always thought that people with depression are more likely to smoke because they are self-medicating. When they try to stop, often a side effect is depression. But when their depression is concurrent, they have a much tougher time quitting. The depression gets worse, and so they have the urge to smoke."
"This is why we have to address the whole person: we have to look at the depression and we have to look at the addiction. It's part of the whole recovery process," Baker added.
This is why trying to force people to stop smoking is not as simple as making a ban. By making smokers feel like outcasts of society, their problems are only getting worse.
[Via: straight.com]
It was in 1964 that the U.S. surgeon general's office released the report, which became famous as it linked smoking to cancer. At that time almost 50% of Americans were smoking.
There is a TV series called "Mad Men" set on Madison avenue, which is a good example of exactly how much people were smoking back then. The characters light up regularly, at the office, at home, in restaurants, bars, and in cars, without a second thought, which is quite shocking for most North Americans nowadays.
Over the past 40 years things have changed or our behaviour has been changed - education, lawsuit, advertising restrictions, cigarette taxes - have caused us to take on different bad habits, while only one in five adults is smoking now.
Of course, this is only the case for Western countries. Some countries are just getting fired up. In developing countries smoking rates are well over 50% and these rates are rising. In poor countries the rate of female smoking is increasing especially fast.
The citizens of Western countries are not comprehending that they have made huge changes and there is a point where they need to stop infringing on people's (smoker's) rights.
[Via: baltimoresun.com]
Snoop Dogg is a rapper who is notorious for getting himself into trouble. Last night he caused a new scandal by lighting up on stage at a gig in Holland.
The Heineken Music Hall was the scene of the crime, where he decided to light up at a sold-out show.
Smoking has been banned in all public places in Holland, even the infamous coffee shops are only serving pure marijuana now.
Snoop Dogg has been working on getting himself a work visa for Australia for months now and he is finally seeing success with that venture. Rumors state that he even got Hollywood actor and native of Australia Russel Crow to write him a letter to the government.
As of yet no information has been released as to whether any charges have been pressed for his illegal behavior, could this simple act cost him a trip to Australia?
He ought to undergo the same processes that any other member of society would have to undergo, but probably as a start he will get some sort of special treatment…
[Via: gigwise.com]
According to some of the citizens of Wales, smoking bans in pubs and clubs ought to have a re-thinking. Pubs are closing down at an especially fast rate and many are feeling their pockets tightening due to the credit crunch, cheap supermarket prices and smoking bans.
Most smokers do understand that for a non-smoker their second-hand smoke can be very damaging, and that it is not fair for them to have breathe smoke in public places. What the Welsh smoking population is hoping for is some understanding and a few licences, which would allow for smoking to be legal in designated indoor premises. Even if only one in five pubs had designated smoking areas would be better than having one in five pubs shut down.
Which is true - this would make everyone happy not only in Wales but all over the world. If you do not like Sushi or Italian food, you always have the choice to go to a restaurant you like. Why should this be any different for smoking and pubs?
[Via: WalesOnline]
