Almost everyone knows that smoking causes life-threatening diseases like cancer, emphysema and heart diseases and shortens lives by ten years or more, also that this habit can cost the smoker thousands of dollars each year then why are people still lighting up? The answer is addiction. Youngsters start smoking because they think it looks cool, others may smoke because they have seen their friends and relatives smoke. Statistics tell that 9 out of 10 tobacco users start before they are 18 years of age. These people have absolutely no idea that they would become addicted to nicotine and it would become so damn difficult to give up later in life.
To all the tobacco addicts out there, you are not only putting your life at stake but also endangering the health of your loved ones. When you take into account the damage that smoking is doing to your body it seems more like insanity. Just come to think that how traumatic it would be if any one member of your family became ill or died because of this foolish habit of yours. So stop being selfish, put down your cigarette and save all the people you love.
ZUBIA KHAN
Karachi