Dangers of smoking

Young people who smoke are more likely to be involved in deviant social behaviour, said Minister of Health John Rahael yesterday, at the prize-giving function for the essay competition on “The Dangers of Smoking.” Over 500 children took part in the competition. Rahael said those who smoke, are more likely to use drugs and alcohol, be involved in physical altercations, more liable to carry a weapon, to attempt suicide and engage in high risk sexual behaviour which can lead to AIDS  and other sexually transmitted diseases. Rahael, who delivered the feature address at the function sponsored by the Cancer Society of TT at the Queen’s Park Savannah, warned that smoking is not just self-destruction, but second hand smoke is a real danger to the people around the smoker. He said that carbon monoxide was the major component of second hand smoke poison. “This gas robs your heart and brain tissues of oxygen and permanently damages the small airways in your lungs,” he added.

Also addressing the function was Minister of Education Hazel Manning, who congratulated the children, and Chairman of the Cancer Society Dr George Laquis. Minister of Community Development Joan Yuille- Williams, assisted in presenting the prizes. Laquis hit out at the bad example being set by adults and noted that our children, in many ways, are showing us the way today. He said research has demonstrated that tobacco companies target the illegal or under-aged market, that is, our children. Brand loyalty is established by age 18. He recalled that the major tobacco producing countries are imposing smoking bans and running aggressive anti-smoking campaigns, while TT is going its merry, unaware, uncaring way.

Laquis took the opportunity to remind the Minister of Health that time was running out for TT to ratify the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. This Convention seeks to establish general guidelines and principles for international governance in the area of tobacco control. Rahael observed that good health was an integral part of personal prosperity which is influenced by the choices we make. He felt assured that the next generation of Trinidadians was empowered with the knowledge of how to harness good health. He warned that there are no positive aspects of using tobacco and one encounter with it would lead to an onslaught of diseases and social problems.

He said that cigarettes contain at least 69 cancer-causing chemicals, and that 87 percent of lung cancer cases are directly related to smoking. He recalled that studies on children and teens showed that smoking causes coughing, shortness of breath, an increased risk of heart disease,  reduced physical fitness and retarded lung growth and function. He further recalled a Pan American Health Organisation study that revealed that 10 million people would have died of tobacco related disease by the year 2030.