"Butt out" never sounded so polite

Butt out

It is estimated that around 46 million people in the US smoke.

With the known risks of cancer and other complications that come from smoking, let alone the rising prices on tobacco products, this number is astonishing.

The Great American Smokeout is a nationally recognized day that highlights the risks of tobacco use and the benefits of quitting. On the third Thursday of November the American Cancer society challenges smokers to make an attempt to stop smoking, or at least cut-back.

These smokeouts have been around since the 1970's when smoking was much more accepted, and quickly became a nation-wide event thanks to the efforts of the American Cancer Society.

It is now 2009 and people definitely realize the dangers of smoking, and even our government, which profits off of the sale and regulation of tobacco, informs us of these risks.

As an ex-smoker of six years I can absolutely see the appeal in smoking, but it only goes so far. Smoking is only pleasurable until you start to see the negative effects, and often times by then it is too late and too hard to quit.

I myself was fortunate to see the harm it was doing to my body, and my wallet, pretty early on. After getting a horrible case of bronchitis resulting in fluid in my lungs, and getting on a breathing pipe, I had enough.

Many people are not lucky enough to have that same realization I had. However, hearing it from someone else just isn't enough. Just like starting smoking, nothing anyone else tells you can sway you from doing want you want.

The desire to quit smoking only comes when someone believes they are truly ready.

It seems you might be able to jump-start this process by doing some research and studying the cold, hard facts. We have all heard about the health risks over and over again, but maybe that is not all one should be concerned about.

Maybe if you don't care too much about your own health, or cannot see that far into the future, you are worried about wasting money.

A pack of Marlboro's runs for around $6 now, and if you smoke a pack-a-day in a month you have spent about $186, and over $2,100 in a year.

Imagine what you could do with $2000 dollars; you could buy two Apple MacBooks, 10 iPhones, or five pairs of Gucci shoes.

If you quit smoking you could afford to pay for health insurance every month and at a lesser price than if you continued to keep on puffing.

Perhaps the money issue doesn't get to you either, but what about your loved ones? Do you care about your family and friends, or maybe even just your fellow neighbor or classmate?

Secondhand smoke is a real problem, and many people don't really believe that it even exists, but the facts don't lie.

According to the Surgeon General non-smokers who were exposed to secondhand smoke either at work or at home had a 25 to 35 percent higher chance of developing heart disease and a 20 to 30 percent higher risk of getting lung cancer.

Many institutions such as college campuses and hospitals are banning smoking on the grounds. One local hospital, Ocala Regional Medical Center, is actually becoming smoke-free on the day of this year's Great American Smokeout.

While the CFCC campus has not completely banned smoking on the premises, there are certain designated smoke-free areas that are marked with signs. These signs are in place to help non-smoking students avoid cigarette smoke and its ill side effects, so please respect the signs and your classmates as well.

Overall smoking is a habit, and habits are a hard thing to kick. Even after the nicotine withdrawal tapers off it is hard to find something to replace the routine.

Hopefully one day, if you smoke, you will find it in yourself to quit, and maybe it will just happen to be the day of the Great American Smokeout.

For more information on the Great American Smokeout and tools to help you quit go to:

www.cancer.org