Smoking Stinks!

By Lana Moline

I am so sick of walking through smoke clouds as I leave a building or having it seep to my car at the traffic light.  I’m a non-smoker by choice but I am continuously subjected, against my will, to second and third hand smoke and I didn’t even know about third hand smoke until now.  I have lost too many people to cancer caused by smoking until I am  over the top about avoiding it at all costs.  I don’t see the redeeming value in it and truly believe that it is just a pack of death and that’s not something that I am looking to purchase at the grocery store.

I sat down with a marketing representative for the American Lung Association Plans-Gulf Region to gain some insight on their programs and talk about spearheading an initiative.  That was the first time I heard the term, third hand smoke.  She explained that third hand smoke is much like second hand smoke in that non-smokers are exposed to nicotine inhalation and all it’s risks.  Third hand smoke is the residual smell of nicotine on surfaces, in rooms or on people.  Here’s what that looks like:  sitting next to a heavy smoker some time after they have smoked, entering a room after occupants have smoked or obtaining an object that has been in possession of a smoker.  In all of those instances, the smell of nicotine may continue to remain strong.  It’s a tough cookie because over time it gets stronger and will resist normal cleaning.  That’s why clothes, furniture and cars of heavy smokers all continue to smell like smoke.

The thing that bothers me the most about this is just like second hand smoke, those of us who are exposed in this way run the risk of potential health problems.  For that I say – “It Stinks!”  Smoking stinks in general.  The effects of smoking stink.  The impact of loosing a loved one to lung cancer stinks and all of the money that is wasted by supporting such an unhealthy habit stinks.  There are so many other options to relaxing so don’t let that be an excuse to continue.  If you want to breathe clean air and live a long time, join me in preserving health by non-apologetically sharing that “SMOKING STINKS!”
