Resilience and strong willpower have been identified as the attributes that must be imbibed to quit the habit of tobacco smoking.This was the opinion of Port Harcourt resident in an interview with newsmen.The expression, ‘smokers are liable to die young’, had been a mantra in our major tobacco commercials over the years.
The urgency of the message was necessitated by numerous health agencies around the world to warn people of the dangers of tobacco smoking. No wonder W.H.O. created World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to draw global attention to tobacco epidermic and the preventable death which amounts to eight million people annually worldwide.
In view of the above, a nurse Mrs Kelechi Mmiliukwu who explained addiction as a chronic condition where an individual is compelled to engage in a behaviour despite negative consequences which includes attributed tobacco smoking, addiction to nicotine content.” Contributing factor includes social and environmental factors, peer pressure, adverts.
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Another contributing factor is brain chemistry example repeated nicotine use leading to longtime use and cravings”, she stated. On her part a medical professional, Dr. Emmanuel Ezebuiro cited the dangers of tobacco smoking which include all forms of cancer and birth deformity. “It can cause heart attack and stroke. Smoking can cause type 2 diabetes Miletus. It can affect the ability to take in even for the men it can cause low sperm count.
Also the person staying around where one is smoking is also predisposed to these health issues”, she emphasised. A former smoker, Mr. Temple Amadi advised smokers to make strong resolution to quit the harmful habit to save lives.” If you are a Nigerian youth and you smoke, do not think there is anything good for you to derive.
You must take decisive measures to persevere against the urge of smoking and stay away from colleagues who exhibit such habit you will adapt to the situation and will not longer go back to smoking again”, he said. An advert practitioner, Mr. Bola Muibi urged authority in charge to enforce laws barring the subtle promotion of tobacco.
“If they could enact a law against these notable musicians who exhibit smoking in the media space to lure the youths who see them as their mentors and idols could go a long way to discourage smoking”, he explained. A quote says, ‘your life is not cheaper than the cheap nicotine, realize the importance of your life’.
