Most Americans start smoking when they are 13-14 years old, and are smoking regularly by 17 or 18. The most commonly cited reason why children start smoking is pee pressure- wanting to be accepted by a certain group who see smoking acceptable. Another reason could be the influence from parents or older siblings.

Once a person starts smoking regularly, the addictive process slowly creates a pattern of having to smoke to feel good. That is when a smoker feels he or she is trapped. At first, a smoker thinks that they can quit anytime but most smokers find it very hard to stop. There are three aspects of smoking whish makes it difficult to quit:

· The mental attitude that one needs to cope with their problems or wi

Another reason why smoking should be prohibited is the exposure of second hand smoke. Second hand smoke ranks third as a major preventable cause of death behind only active smoking and alcohol. Second hand smoke is the smoke that people breathe when they are located in the same air space as smokers. "It is a complex mix of over 4, 000 substances, of which more than 42 individuals mainstream components are known to cause cancer." (Napier 20) However, second hand smoke is one of the biggest environmental health risks that society faces today. The effects are mainly important when one takes into account the fact that second hand smoke usually targets non- smokers unwillingly. A scientific agreement has emerged during the past ten years that second hand is a major cause of lung cancer and respiratory disease in young people. Recently, evidence has gathered up a causal link to heart disease. And since 1980, second hand smoke has been identified as a leading occupational health hazard. Second hand smoke should be restricted out of both workplaces and enclosed public places in order to protect nonsmokers from involuntary exposure.

Almost everyone knows that smoking is hazardous to ones' health and can cause cancer in smokers. But most people have very little idea of exactly how dangerous smoking can be, how many different types it can cause or complicate, or how much smoking increases the risk of contracting various deadly diseases.

There are many reasons to quit smoking. The financial cost is just one. Each pack of cigarettes cost Americans more than $3.90 in smoking related expenses. The total cost of caring for people with health problems caused by cigarette smoking - counting all sources of medical payments is about 72.7 billion per year, according to health economists at the University of California. 'The tobacco industry has caused immeasurable harm to the public health. These figures strengthen the idea that economic sanctions are appropriate and justified." (Gold, 17) Among the states with the lowest expenses were North Dakota with $19 million in smoking health effects. The lowest percentage was in Washington D.

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Approximate Word count = 1480
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)