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“Love yourself, love others: Say no to smoking!”
Research Outline
A. Introduction
B. The History of Tobacco Industry and Smoking
1. Discovering the New World
2. Transforming the medical value of tobacco to personal enjoyment
3. Manufacturing cigarettes and their distributions
C. The Effects of Tobacco Use
1. Smoking increases the risks for premature death
2. Passive Smoking is responsible for various forms of diseases
3. Smoking and deviant behavior
D. Tobacco Industry Advertising and Marketing
1. Attracting the youth to smoke through advertising
2. Manipulating the facts of cigarette smoking
3. Smoking pleasure over longevity of life
E. Anti-smoking Movements
1. Criticizing the habit of smoking
2. Prohibiting the sales of cigarettes
3. Applying the Human Constitutional Rights
F Government Intervention and Tobacco Industry
1. Carrying out experiments and researches by American Cancer Society
2. Regulating the production and consumption of tobacco
G. Opinion and Conclusion

Love yourself, love others: Say no to smoking!
Throughout history, since the great independence of the United States, tobacco smoking has been a controversy
in our daily lives. Despite its economic values and tax contributions to the government, many people recognize
smoking causes tremendous detrimental effects and deconstructs one’s priceless health. However, citizens and
inhabitants are still under the influence of smoking either directly or involuntarily across our nation.
In fact, tobacco was first cultivated in the Andes Mountains in present-day Peru and Ecuador as far back as
5000 B.C. With a medicinal property, tobacco’ gentle narcotic was able to relieve the pain of toothache,
wounds, and snake bites when appropriately prepared (Pampel 5). Perhaps, because of tobacco’s usefulness,
eventually it became notorious and spread out across world. For Native Americans, men commonly consumed
tobacco for pleasure. For youth, tobacco acted as a logical medium to prove their passage into adulthood
(Pampel 5). As we have anticipated and learned, almost everything has its reason to exist. Even a hazardous
substance has its practical value. However, for an obvious, beneficial product, excessively or inadequately
practiced can lead to harm.
Furthermore, when Christopher Columbus discovered the New World, tobacco was not one of the significant
products he presented to the Europeans. Focused on acquiring gold, Columbus and other explorers didn’t
realize the influences of tobacco and its economic value at that time (Pampel 5-6). Perhaps, tobacco didn’t
become significant in Europeans’ cultures until the next few decades. During the 1550s in Spain and Portugal,
health fanatics suggested that tobacco was able to cure bad breath, kidney stones, and wounds from poison
arrows. With a medicinal value, tobacco soon spread to France, Italy and Germany. In France, the tobacco
plant was named Nicotiana tabacum after Jean Nicot promoted its curative power to the queen (Pampel 6).
Apparently, he didn’t visualize the addiction with nicotine will be affecting the entire human civilization
dramatically in the future.
As a result, tobacco eventually transported to the England by several English explorers in the 1560s. Quickly,
tobacco smoking became popular and dispersed in the city of London. Especially in William Shakespeare’s
Globe Theatre, smoking contributed additional entertainment and enjoyment. Meanwhile, many people found the
new habit disgusting and wicked (Pampel 6). In his published pamphlet of 1604, King James I of Great Britain
claimed: “Smoking is a custom loathsome to the eyes, hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain, dangerous to the
lungs, and in the black, stinking fume thereof, resembling the horrible Stygian smoke of the pit that is bottomless”
(qtd. in Pampel 6). The king wisely recognized tobacco smoking would lead to serious problems for one’s
health and cause environmental deficiency. His pamphlet was evidently supported by modern researches and
studies. “The Worm Health Organization (WHO) attributes 4.9 million deaths annually to tobacco. That figure
could reach 10 million by 2030” (Differences in Worldwide Tobacco Use by Gender 207-15). Since smoking is
harmful and destructive, it is necessary for the government to interfere.
Although King James I tried to discourage smoking with new taxes, tobacco cultivation and distribution could not
be restrained. It incessantly developed and dispersed in the land of America (Pampel 6). Raising tax was not
the most effective approach in controlling smoking because logically people were eager to pay for a product they
enjoy. In addition, egocentric pioneers continued to manufacture and promote tobacco for gaining wealth. For
these reasons, the king’s criticism against smoking didn’t lead to a proper management of tobacco’s
development and allocation. The government should have considered in developing supplementary, concrete
actions for banning tobacco misusages. Without regulations, smoking would continue to influence many people’s
life.
Before twentieth century, most of tobacco was incinerated in pipe and cigars. Cigarette smoking didn’t become
popular in the United States until the 1880s. The mass production of cigarettes from mechanized methods
contributed to the lower prices of tobacco, which increased the popularity of cigarette smoking. Meanwhile,
many health advocates, and religious groups claimed that cigarettes were more dangerous than other forms of
tobacco. Thus, anti-smoking movements arose between 1893 and 1921 in fourteen states. Although the sales
of cigarettes were strictly prohibited in those states, public cigarettes smoking still consumed in undergrounds
(Torr 8-9). Anti-smoking movements could have been more authoritative and effective if the entire nation
established these policies along with the fourteen states. In that case, smoking would not be a major issue in the
recent centuries.
Actually, American President Franklin D Roosevelt was a well-known cigarette smoker. During the Great
Depression of the 1930s, tobacco was stabilized in prices by the United States governmental programs during his
presidency. As a result, the anti-smoking legislation was revoked by most of the states in the early 1930s and
eventually the prohibition of sales of cigarettes was lifted by 1933. Also, many soldiers smoked cigarettes
donated by tobacco companies during World War II (Torr 10). Possibly, many of them were not able to
renounce smoking because of their addictions with nicotine. Thus, smoking was gradually accepted as part of
the American popular culture (Torr 10).
According to the American Medical Association:
Between the World Wars, smoking rates soared and continued to rise for decades as cigarettes became part of
the popular culture, linked by manufacturers, advertisers, the entertainment industry, and the media with glamour,
success, and athletic performance. Its social acceptability was unquestioned by the time of the first major
challenges regarding smoking’ health effects. (qtd. in Torr 10)
On behalf of constructing a smoke free society, the most effective approach is to regulate the production of
tobacco nationally. For example, as in the present case of marijuana, the government could grant permission to
qualified and certified organizations or business entities to manufacture tobacco for medical purpose. It’s also the
government’s duties and responsibilities to protect citizens from harmful products, such as marijuana and
cigarettes. In fact, unauthorized production and consumption of marijuana are both illegal in the United States.
Our government has been successfully in controlling the utilization of these activities and products. Establishing
such regulations and laws will successfully restrain, manage illegitimate manufactures of tobacco and
inappropriate tobacco consumption.
Meanwhile, smokers’ rights advocates may disagree with my suggestions. In fact, several smokers’
organizations (often with the support of the tobacco industry) have claimed adults have the right to choose
smoking pleasure over longevity of life (Pampel 67). Unfortunately, majority of those adults were not well
educated to understand the consequences of cigarette smoking. For example, I totally didn’t realize cigarette
consumption would cause disadvantages and serious destructions for my health when I first started smoking.
Suppose a statement like cigarette smoking will lead to condense your longevity of life was completely and
clearly displayed on its packing, smoking would not have engaged in my life since adolescent. In addition, since
there were four hundred thousand U. S. smokers quit or die prematurely every year, tobacco industry turns to
teenagers to recruit new customers. Advertising is the answer to William Everett Bailey’s question in his book
The Invisible Drug: “What makes cigarettes the most successful product in American history?” (Torr 45-46). A
1979 Philip Morris memo boasts, “Marlboro dominates in the 17 and under age category, capturing over 50%
of this market” (qtd. in Torr 46). Therefore, millions of teenagers have been influenced, affected or victimized by
the tobacco industry through advertising, marketing, and other broadcast manipulations. I am certainly one of the
best examples!
On the other hand, smokers’ rights advocates believed a ban on smoking might lead to other threats to liberty
and freedom of choices. The suggested effects included: bans on the type of food people can eat; the movies
they can watch; the games they can play, and the ideas they can have (Pampel 68). These suggestions were
often exaggerated and committed a slippery slope fallacy. While smoking cause damages to our health, food
provides the nutrition for us to survive. Movies and games provide the entertainment for us to enjoy. More often,
ideas may assist us to visualize and understand facts. In addition, every culture or society is primarily based on
beliefs, values, behaviors and norms. Because smoking constructs burdens to society, it can be categorized as
deviance along with the unauthorized consumption of marijuana. Since deviant behaviors are not socially
acceptable, pressures against smoking would probably increased. Of course, human beings have privileges to
practice their desires and wills. However, they certainly don’t have any constitutional rights to influence others’
health condition for satisfying their personal pleasures.
In a recent purchasing of Marlboro Lights from Philip Morris, I was surprised to discover the only warning
displayed on its packing was “Surgeon General’s Warning: Cigarette Smoke Contains Carbon Monoxide”
(Marlboro Packing). Honestly, how many smokers truly and completely understand the facts of carbon
monoxide? The results and outcomes would be unfortunately few. In addition, what about the rights for
smokers not understanding English in the United States? Are they not entitle, deserve to gain information and
facts regarding cigarette smoking? According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking kills more
people than the combinations of AIDS, alcohol, drug abuse, car crashes, murders, suicides, and fires (Torr 21).
The absence of knowledge of educated terms from chemistry, and not understanding of English endangers their
life. This perhaps is another form of discrimination! Therefore, smokers’ rights were not completely protected.
Tobacco industry should consider the contents in its advertising and the effects on multicultural audiences.
Meanwhile, smokers may think smoking is a personal activity and do not affect others. A recent study indicated
passive smoking can causes heart disease and lung cancer in nonsmoking adults. It is also responsible for sudden
infant death syndrome (SIDS), respiratory problems, ear infections, and asthma attacks in infants and children
(The Deadly Effects of Tobacco Addiction 22-3). According to the facts above, it is certain that second-hand
smoking causes huge damages to nonsmokers’ health. Yet, two famous researchers, Enstrom and Kabat,
showed controversial opinion. In their study, they concluded there was not enough evidence to support a causal
relation between environmental tobacco smoke and tobacco related mortality, although they do not rule out a
small effect. They claimed that the association between exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and coronary
heart disease and lung cancer may be overestimated (Enstrom and Kabat).
However, the American Cancer Society (ACS) did not agree with the conclusions of the researchers in their
analysis of environmental tobacco smoke. ACS declared this study was fatally flawed because of
misclassification of exposure due to not sufficient information was obtained on sources of exposure to
environmental tobacco smoke other than the smoking status of the spouse (Thun). In Enstrom and Kabat’s
disclosure of funding, the researchers were partially funded by the Center for Indoor Air Research, which was
funded primarily from the tobacco industry (Enstrom and Kabat). It is suspected that their results were flaw and
beneficial to the tobacco companies on behalf the contributions.
Therefore, by recognizing the history and background of tobacco, it is certain that its original purpose was to
serve and heal the sickness of mankind. The invention of implementing tobacco was not designed as a tool to
generate profits. Its principle of existence was not arranged to bring harmful effects into one’s precious health.
However, because of misunderstanding and misusages, tobacco has created burdens to society for many
generations. Perhaps, in the future, we will be able to realize the true values of tobacco through additional
researches and studies. Meanwhile, it is necessary for the publics to increase efforts to reduce smoking. The
government can assist the youths and smokers to realize the serious effects of cigarette consumption. It could be
achieved through civic education in schools and public medias. Moreover, the government can create agencies
to help smokers renouncing. In a long run, the government should establish concrete regulations in controlling the
cultivation and usages of tobacco. Since direct and passive smoking contain harmful chemicals and influence our
daily lives dramatically, it is important to spread out the words: Love yourself, love others, say no to
smoking!
Work Cited Page
“Differences in Worldwide Tobacco Use by Gender: Findings from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey.”
Journal of School Health 73.6 (2003): 207-.
Enstrom, James E., and Geoffrey C Kabat. “Environmental tobacco smoke and tobacco
Related mortality in a prospective study of Californians, 1960-98.” BMJ Helping doctors make better decisions.
17 May 2003. BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. 27 Jan 2007
<http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/326/7398/1057>
Pampel, Fred C. TOBACCO INDUSTRY AND SMOKING. New York: Fred C.
Pampel, and Facts On File, 2004.
“The Deadly Effects of Tobacco Addiction.” Junior Scholastic. 27 Nov. 2006: 22-3.
Torr, James D. Smoking. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc., 2001.
Thun, Michael J. “Passive smoking: Tobacco industry publishes disinformation.” BMJ Helping doctors make
better decisions. 30 Aug. 2003. BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. 27 Jan 2007
<http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/327/7413/502-c>









