Ive never known anyone to impulsive buy cigarettes either...
I just dont see how "hiding" cigarettes are going to make people stop =S If I need a pack of smokes Im going to buy them whether I see them or not lol.
"Don't do anything by half. If u love someone, love them with all ur soul. When u go to work, work ur ass off. When u hate someone, hate them until it hurts." - The Legend that is Henry Rollins
"... and I need you now somehow, and I need you now somehow ... on my knees for you... in my head the flesh seems thicker..."
Voice of Reason for: I-used-to-be-positive, Sisters: Hollz and Fading Star, RYL Adopted Daughter: bright red scream
The only thing that's going to make a person give up smoking is themselves. Or if someone close to them gets smoking related cancer or whatever. But even then, people will continue to smoke.
Nothing the government can do is going to stop people smoking. It's a personal choice, a choice that, that person has the right to choose. So short of taking away everyone's human rights, it's simply down to the smoker to stop smoking.
It is NOT safer, it is linked to a lot of mental health issues, if it was proved to be safe it wouldnt be illegel right now.
Actually, the available evidence does suggest it's safer. It's illegal because the tobacco industry doesn't want the competition.
Marijuana is actually less addictive than caffeine, and it's not associated with any adverse health effects (of course the smoke is still not so great, but there's nothing in the actual marijuana that's harmful, whereas tobacco is carcinogenic on its own). Whereas tobacco use during pregnancy is associated with lower birth rate and increased risk of spontaneous abortion, the only effect of marijuana use is that children of women who used marijuana during pregnancy actually score higher on measures of cognitive function and agreeableness during their first months of life.
Marijuana also has proven medical benefits, but remains illegal even for medical use for one reason: politics. It's nothing to do with the safety of the drug, but rather who has political power.
But this isn't really what the thread is even about.
Emily
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As has allready been said on this thread, i dont think the government can really do anything more to dissuade people who allready smoke to stop- people aren't going to react happily to having quiting forced on them dictatorship style. I guess the warnings on the packets are a good idea, especially if you've just started, but tbh i don't think they're really all that effective.
I know that having to buy something from under the counter might put me off slightly if i was buying fags for the first time- but thats only because i'm an honest girly . I guess it makes them look more 'scary'. But its also annoying me how the government are getting so obsessive about it- yes, it costs the NHS loads but havnt they got other things to worry about aswell?
The government wont stop me smoking, it will be my decision to quit.
The average RYL smoker seems to me, admittedly without a detailed survey, to be female (but most members are), in her teens (ditto) and pretty well convinced she's immortal. And some, while acknowledging the risk, seem to say Sod It, if it happens it happens.
Many of us are also suicidal so see the risk and think why not, slow suicide anyone?
There's nothing the government can do that would effectively make people stop smoking who've already started, but stopping people starting smoking in the first place should be fairly simple:
Ban tobacco and legalize marijuana.
It's far less addictive, and appreciably safer. Unfortunately the tobacco industry has bought far too much political power for that to ever happen.
I'm so angry I'm shaking.
For osmeone who takes anti-physchotics because of the effects of smoking marijuana then you need to get your facts right.
It is an extremely harmful substance and can lead to psychosis, months and years later, and I'm not just talking about paranoia.
When marijuana was put to a class c drug in the UK there was a 95% rise in child & adodolecent mental health cases.
Not to mention the drug is dabilitating to those that use on a constant basis.
Last edited by Mrs Sam : 25-03-2008 at 07:56 PM.
Reason: removed flaming
In all fairness, ~invisible~girl~ may have different research that she's quoting from. There is different emphasis on different research among different countries, there will also be diffrent interpretations becasue of cultural differences!!!
Maybe there is inadequate or incomplete research somewhere in Ameica or in Britain. The research in Britain of this drug as very much under interpretation as there is no diect control over the Independant Variable so there is no specific research showing cause and effect.
Edit:
I also believe it is highly unfair to say something is 'retarded' to say when you are unaware of the full facts.
Be respectful to what has been said if you expect to be treat the same, thats my view anyway!!!
Last edited by Caru y Nos : 25-03-2008 at 05:58 PM.
I don't think it'd make that much of a diference. Kids will still see their older mates and family, etc. smoking and that'll attract them more to it than them being dispalyed in a shop.
I'm not sure I care too much though, I mean I'll still smoke if they put them behind the counter. And I like the idea that this has the possibility of preventing my younger siblings or kids or whatever from smoking one day, cos' I know it ain't healthy and such.
Cor' next thing you know they might as well be putting sweets and chocolate behind the counter to prevent childhood obesity.
For osmeone who takes anti-physchotics because of the effects of smoking marijuana then you need to get your facts right.
It is an extremely harmful substance and can lead to psychosis, months and years later, and I'm not just talking about paranoia.
There are a hell of a lot of things that can contribute to the onset of psychosis, and the evidence that marijuana use is a causal factor in psychosis is minimal at best. Several studies have found no correlation at all, and no study has demonstrated causality. It's also well established that the existence of psychotic symptoms is a risk factor for substance use, and it's quite possible that the early stages of a psychotic disorder, before the first psychotic episode, could be a risk factor for substance use, which raises even more questions about causality.
While several studies have shown that people with a history of cannabis use are at higher risk for psychosis, these studies have not addressed other risk factors for psychosis. Studies comparing the presence of additional risk factors in individuals with psychotic symptoms with and without a history of cannabis use found no difference in other risk factors between the two groups, suggesting that the correlation is the result of shared risk factors for cannabis use and psychosis, and cannabis use does not itself increase the risk of psychosis but only suggests the presence of other risk factors.
There will never be solid evidence for or against teh effects of marijuana on psychosis. Because this cannot be taken into the lab, as of moral factors. As it could cause harm to the subject. Also, longitudinal studies would suffer sample drop off, etc
Though much of what i read there does make sense, all studies have to be questioned and no one study is correct!!!
Oh well now I can't *see* the cigarettes, I'm gonna forget all about them and stop smoking. It was SEEING them that made me smoke, thank goodness for this new law.
.../sarcasm
I suppose the less people see cigarettes and are familiar with them, the less socially acceptale they become.
Which means I get twice as many "isn't she scum" looks when I indulge in a nice cigarette now. Nice one.
Hunger only for a taste of justice, hunger only for a world of truth, for all that you have is your soul.
Oh well now I can't *see* the cigarettes, I'm gonna forget all about them and stop smoking. It was SEEING them that made me smoke, thank goodness for this new law.
Of course keeping cigarettes out of view isn't going to magically make everyone stop smoking. But that doesn't mean it won't help.
For people trying to stop smoking, seeing cigarettes is quite likely to cause a craving, hence making it harder to stop. There was a similar issue with drugs a while back when an anti-drug campaign produced a series of billboards and posters that included images of drug paraphernalia. It was fine for people without a history of drug use, but the ads were taken down because they were so triggering for recovering addicts, even those who had been clean for months or even years. Visual stimuli can have similar effect for people recovering from nicotine dependence, and obviously cigarettes are something most smokers would strongly associate with nicotine.
People who haven't started smoking yet are probably going to be less likely to buy cigarettes if they don't see them. I realize that many smokers probably got their first cigarette from a friend or whatever and may well have been addicted before ever buying them from a store, but I have to assume there's also some portion of people who do decide to buy some cigarettes to try, and those people at least would be less likely to start smoking if they didn't see cigarettes in stores.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alcohol Induced Altruism
I suppose the less people see cigarettes and are familiar with them, the less socially acceptale they become.
Which means I get twice as many "isn't she scum" looks when I indulge in a nice cigarette now. Nice one.
Making cigarettes less socially acceptable would almost certainly be a good thing overall even if it kind of sucks for current smokers, in that it discourages people from starting smoking and provides additional motivation for current smokers to stop. Personally I find cigarette smoke extremely unpleasant, and I'm inclined to see that people who are smoking in settings where they're getting disgusted looks from others probably deserve those looks. Smoking somewhere that your smoke bothers other people is really a very selfish thing to do anyway, and it really shouldn't be socially acceptable at all.
Emily
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For people trying to stop smoking, seeing cigarettes is quite likely to cause a craving, hence making it harder to stop.
I've got to agree with this point!! Thats also why they banned advertisements of cigarettes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ~invisible~girl~
People who haven't started smoking yet are probably going to be less likely to buy cigarettes if they don't see them. I realize that many smokers probably got their first cigarette from a friend or whatever and may well have been addicted before ever buying them from a store, but I have to assume there's also some portion of people who do decide to buy some cigarettes to try, and those people at least would be less likely to start smoking if they didn't see cigarettes in stores.
Can't argue with that!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by ~invisible~girl~
Making cigarettes less socially acceptable would almost certainly be a good thing overall even if it kind of sucks for current smokers, in that it discourages people from starting smoking and provides additional motivation for current smokers to stop. Personally I find cigarette smoke extremely unpleasant, and I'm inclined to see that people who are smoking in settings where they're getting disgusted looks from others probably deserve those looks. Smoking somewhere that your smoke bothers other people is really a very selfish thing to do anyway, and it really shouldn't be socially acceptable at all.
It is rather selfish, its the equivalent of someone going around slapping you with a fish, its not fair on those who don't want to smoke. Although, the disgusted looks are only deserved if it is having a direct effect.
the disgusted looks are only deserved if it is having a direct effect.
If they're close enough to give the person a disgusted look, they're almost certainly also close enough to be breathing the smoke. I think it pretty much always has a direct effect.
Your post made me really happy though, cause I was all ready for people to start attacking me for saying that :)
Emily
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Ban tobacco and legalize marijuana.
It's far less addictive, and appreciably safer. Unfortunately the tobacco industry has bought far too much political power for that to ever happen.
Agreed. Not forgetting of course it's medicinal purposes. But it'll never happen. Pity really, but eh.
Wake me up before I change again
Remind me the story that I won't get insane
Tell me why it's always the same
Explain me the reason why I'm so much in pain.
Whatever happened to personal choice? I don't smoke but I wouldn't begrudge someone cigarette if they wanted to have one. People know the dangers and if they wish to smoke anyway, that is their prerogative.
I think all this BS from the nanny state interfering on people's lives is just oppressive. If people want to quit then invest money in providing resources to help them. If people don't want to quit though, then they should not be made to. If people want to smoke, let them smoke.
. I guess it makes them look more 'scary'. But its also annoying me how the government are getting so obsessive about it- yes, it costs the NHS loads but havnt they got other things to worry about aswell?
