Smokin' in the Boys (and Girls) Room

I am an EX-smoker. I started when I was 16 during high shcool. I'm now 34 year old, mother of two beautiful baby girls. I have tried to quit smoking when I started seeing those NASTY commercials few years ago. I've tried the following: Lozenge, patches after patches, Nicorette Gum, the nicotine inhalers and cold turkey. It is the most difficult thing to do. I didn't know fully back then , what I know now. Boy do I, as thousands of others who says - why did I ever pick this up? Yes there are some people who really do not care to quit and that's his or her right. So I am really mad that the kids who start to smoke now, after what we know about smoking. So I strongly agree with the tax increase. Let's raise it so redicilously high that teenager would rather spend their $ some where else. Shopping for example - it helps the economy flowing instead of fat-n- ing the wallets of the tabacco CEOs. Yes, we pick up that first ciggerette, but they spray all that harmful and very addictive chemicals. You are hooked. And they have a loyal customers until they die from smoking. My co-worker did. My girls think I'm their hero, and loves me unconditionally. If I die from smoking their world will be over - I have 14months old and a 4 year old. That's why when I heard about Chantix, of course I saw my doctor and got a precription. My insurance paid 90 percent so I lucked out there, it's very expensive. It would hurt if all those quit smoking aids are cheaper. It's so darn expensive when you're looking at the $50.00 price tag on the little box with just few patches in them, verses the $7.99 in Anchorage, Alaska no tax here though, $7.99 doesn't sounds so bad if you are like me - on a budget.
So need to raise HUGE taxes and FDA need to make it that they have to put their ingredients just like everything else is regulated - Oh exept toys from China - do not get me started on that one...and bring the prices down for the products that helps you quit. Even if I still was a smoker, I would still talk to my children and educate them on how dangerous smoking truely is and why it's so addictive. You might be a smoker, but you can help your children make a smart choice.

I am an EX-smoker. I started when I was 16 during high shcool. I'm now 34 year old, mother of two beautiful baby girls. I have tried to quit smoking when I started seeing those NASTY commercials few years ago. I've tried the following: Lozenge, patches after patches, Nicorette Gum, the nicotine inhalers and cold turkey. It is the most difficult thing to do. I didn't know fully back then , what I know now. Boy do I, as thousands of others who says - why did I ever pick this up? Yes there are some people who really do not care to quit and that's his or her right. So I am really mad that the kids who start to smoke now, after what we know about smoking. So I strongly agree with the tax increase. Let's raise it so redicilously high that teenager would rather spend their $ some where else. Shopping for example - it helps the economy flowing instead of fat-n- ing the wallets of the tabacco CEOs. Yes, we pick up that first ciggerette, but they spray all that harmful and very addictive chemicals. You are hooked. And they have a loyal customers until they die from smoking. My co-worker did. My girls think I'm their hero, and loves me unconditionally. If I die from smoking their world will be over - I have 14months old and a 4 year old. That's why when I heard about Chantix, of course I saw my doctor and got a precription. My insurance paid 90 percent so I lucked out there, it's very expensive. It would hurt if all those quit smoking aids are cheaper. It's so darn expensive when you're looking at the $50.00 price tag on the little box with just few patches in them, verses the $7.99 in Anchorage, Alaska no tax here though, $7.99 doesn't sounds so bad if you are like me - on a budget.
So need to raise HUGE taxes and FDA need to make it that they have to put their ingredients just like everything else is regulated - Oh exept toys from China - do not get me started on that one...and bring the prices down for the products that helps you quit. Even if I still was a smoker, I would still talk to my children and educate them on how dangerous smoking truely is and why it's so addictive. You might be a smoker, but you can help your children make a smart choice.

I am an EX-smoker. I started when I was 16 during high shcool. I'm now 34 year old, mother of two beautiful baby girls. I have tried to quit smoking when I started seeing those NASTY commercials few years ago. I've tried the following: Lozenge, patches after patches, Nicorette Gum, the nicotine inhalers and cold turkey. It is the most difficult thing to do. I didn't know fully back then , what I know now. Boy do I, as thousands of others who says - why did I ever pick this up? Yes there are some people who really do not care to quit and that's his or her right. So I am really mad that the kids who start to smoke now, after what we know about smoking. So I strongly agree with the tax increase. Let's raise it so redicilously high that teenager would rather spend their $ some where else. Shopping for example - it helps the economy flowing instead of fat-n- ing the wallets of the tabacco CEOs. Yes, we pick up that first ciggerette, but they spray all that harmful and very addictive chemicals. You are hooked. And they have a loyal customers until they die from smoking. My co-worker did. My girls think I'm their hero, and loves me unconditionally. If I die from smoking their world will be over - I have 14months old and a 4 year old. That's why when I heard about Chantix, of course I saw my doctor and got a precription. My insurance paid 90 percent so I lucked out there, it's very expensive. It would hurt if all those quit smoking aids are cheaper. It's so darn expensive when you're looking at the $50.00 price tag on the little box with just few patches in them, verses the $7.99 in Anchorage, Alaska no tax here though, $7.99 doesn't sounds so bad if you are like me - on a budget.
So need to raise HUGE taxes and FDA need to make it that they have to put their ingredients just like everything else is regulated - Oh exept toys from China - do not get me started on that one...and bring the prices down for the products that helps you quit. Even if I still was a smoker, I would still talk to my children and educate them on how dangerous smoking truely is and why it's so addictive. You might be a smoker, but you can help your children make a smart choice.

How about, leaving it alone. Theres already a large amount of anti-smoking advertising in all venues.
Everyone who smokes knows, very well, the extremlely dangerous risks involved. There are patches, programs, support groups ect... If someone really wants to quit they can. If they need help, then there are a multitude of ways to help. Some people just WANT to smoke. They know the risks, they take the risks, they enjoy it so leave them alone!!
There are risks in everything. Drinking, eating "bad" foods, skydiving, diving, running, driving (how many people a year die in sober car accidents? many thousands), walking across the street or sticking your face in a fan!!!
The point is, the word (smoking is very unhealthy) has been out for a long time and everyone knows it. People who still choose to smoke are using thier freedom of choice. People who drink, join the military, eat unhealthy foods, or even just drive a car are taking a similar risk to thier health. The only differences is in the percentages. Its thier life.... let them live it!!!

Why arent the powers that be forcing the tobacco companies to slowly reduce the amount of nicotine in cigarettes, say over a 2 year span of time, until there is NO nicotine at all? That would help those that smoke to quit, and those that start, not to become physically addicted. It is a simple answer to the health problem.... Oh, that's right, without smokers, we'd loose millions of dollars in tax revenue....