FREE ESSAY ON THE STORY OF AN HOUR

THE STORY OF AN HOUR

What I Already Know:
I really don't know much about teen smoking or why they like to smoke. This is just what
I think about it. I know most teens love to smoke because they think its cool. Some teens
smoke because they want to fit in with their friends. Other kids just smoke because of
the peer- pressure from their friends.
What I want to Know:
- Why do teens smoke?
- Is it an addiction?
- Do teens smoke because of the peer-pressure?
What I found out:
The reason why teens smoke is because of the cigarette ads and problems at home. Smoking
and chewing tobacco are just like using drugs and alcohol. Once you start you may not
ever be able to stop smoking. I also found out a September 2000 study shows that one
-quarter of 12-13 year olds. Who smoke as few as two or three cigarettes a day becomes
addicted in just two weeks? Most of the rest get addicted within a few weeks or more. New
studies show it only takes a matter of days for 12 and 13 year olds to become addicted to
smoking. We've all seen the ads for Marlboro Country, with images of beautiful country
scenes, wild horses galloping, and cowboys around fire or on horseback. Well, here's the
real Marlboro Country. If Joe Camels ad told the truth about smoking it would say. " I
wish I hadn't smoked. I got a lot of kids to think smoking was cool, and I'm so sorry!
I'm so very sorry. I smoked, and now I'm dying of cancer. Just look at me now! Please
whatever you do, don't smoke!"
More About Tobacco Advertising!
Unfortunately, many teens are not too concerned about the risk of disease later in life.
But the fact is cigarettes cause emphysema, lung cancer, and heart disease. Today in the
US, smoking causes 1 of every 5 deaths. Cigarettes kill 1,2000 Americans every day that
amounts to 420,000 Americans deaths each year and two to three million deaths worldwide
annually. In coming decades, the World Health Organization tell us that smoking will kill
500 million people worldwide. That's 9% of the present world population. It means that
nearly 1 of every 10 people now alive on earth will die because of cigarettes! And
tragically, this is entirely preventable. Tobacco ads are also designed to play with your
mind. In magazine ads, we see healthy young people playing sports which require breath,
like tennis or mountain climbing, but we all know that's a lie. These cigarette ads
intentionally make it appear that smoking is socially acceptable. That is so false. The
truth is, here in the US, three out of four people don't smoke, and its not okay to smoke
around most people not any more. Smoking is not socially acceptable. Every year, the
tobacco industry spends $ 4.5 to $ 5 billion on the daily advertising of its deadly,
addictive products. In conclusion, the sad fact is that advertising has as much stronger
effect on teens than most consciously realize. Every day 3,000 teens become newly
addicted to cigarettes. The tobacco industry knows exactly what they are doing, and they
spend billions every year to manipulate the unconscious minds of millions, don't let them
manipulate you! New Scientific studies shows. Teens, who believe advertising has no
effect on you, consider this. A recent study demonstrated that advertising plays a
greater role than peer-pressure in getting teens to smoke. Studies also show the most
popular brands teens smoke is Camels, Marlboros, and Newport.
The Addiction
The physical portion of the addiction is to nicotine. The psychological part of the
relaxing, familiar sensation of handling the cigarette, watching its curling smoke, the
deep and relaxing breathing associated with inhaling and exhaling, the taste, and so on.
When quitting, a smoker's conscious mind says, " I will stop smoking no problem." But the
unconscious mind has been conditioned that cigarettes give pleasure, and that's all it
can focus on. The addicted unconscious mind says, " Give me a cigarette now!" It only
recognizes what feels good, or what doesn't feel good. It demands a cigarette without
regard to right or wrong, and rebels against the conscious mind decision to not smoke.
During the process of quitting, however, a new habit of being a nonsmoker forms. The
unconscious mind gradually gets used to not smoking, and the urges to smoke die away.
So Why Is Cigarette Advertising Legal?
The first reason why Congress has not limited tobacco advertising is mostly about money:
the tobacco industry gives millions to politician's campaigns for office. The world is
not a perfect place this idea is part of the initiation I'll give you later (at high
schools). The tobacco companies spend more on lobbying congress, political advertising
and campaign donations than any other industry in the nation. Big tobacco was the No. 1
contributor in the 1996 presidential electron. They are one of the largest donors in the
2,000-election year as well. The biggest progress we have made against Big Tobacco did
not come from congress, which is the legislative branch of our government. It came mostly
from the court system or the judicial branch: in 1998, there was a $ 246 billion
settlement of the state lawsuits. We have also made good progress in a limited number of
state legislatures, and excellent progress at the local level our city governments. Big
Tobacco's settlement of the state lawsuits resulted in an agreement to end cigarette
billboards. Tobacco many still be advertised, however, in most magazines, and may still
be displayed on countertops. This progress ending cigarette billboards came as result of
the settlement of the lawsuits, nit congress. So just because you see tobacco ads in
magazines and displays in convenience stores, it doesn't mean that tobacco is acceptable
or safe.
What I learned!
At First I didn't know too much about teen smoking or tobacco. Until I did this research
paper? I'm glad I did because now I know what teen smoking and chewing tobacco does to
your body. Now that I looked up some things about teen smoking and chewing tobacco makes
me never want to try it or thinking about looking at it. What I really learned was most
teen smoke because of the peer-pressure from their friends. I think if one of your
friends peer-pressure you about smoking there not really a true friend. Another thing 
I learned was smoking and chewing tobacco ads play with your mind so you can buy the
products. The story about Sean Marsee having tongue cancer I thought at sad a very sad
story. I think before any teen think about smoking or chewing tobacco should read Sean
Marsee Story before they do anything. For my closing sentence I would like to say to the
teens in my community about teen smoking and chewing tobacco is to say no to cigarette
and chewing tobacco!