CRUSH is a movement to promote smokefree lifestyles amongst Vegas' gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) population. Here are the reasons why we fight for a smokefree LGBT scene.
WHEN SMOKERS TRY TO QUIT, MANY TURN TO FOOD BECAUSE THEY ARE ACCUSTOMED TO FREQUENTLY HAVING SOMETHING IN THEIR MOUTH. THIS LEADS TO GAINING WEIGHT. HOWEVER, SMOKERS QUITTING CAN USE GUM OR STRAWS TO KEEP THEIR MOUTHS BUSY WHEN THEY CRAVE A CIG, AVOIDING ANY WEIGHT GAIN.
THIS IS A TRICK. SMOKERS WHO ARE ADDICTED TO NICOTINE OFTEN FEEL STRESSED WHEN THEY HAVE A CRAVING. THEN, SMOKING A CIGARETTE RELIEVES THAT CRAVING ALONG WITH THE STRESS IT CAUSED. IN OTHER WORDS, SMOKING ONLY RELIEVES THE STRESS THAT THE ADDICTION CAUSES.
THE RISK OF LUNG CANCER FROM CIGARETTES INCREASES AS YOU SMOKE MORE. SO WHILE A FEW CIGARETTES ARE NOT "SAFE," THEY ARE LESS RISKY THAN A PACK-A-DAY. HOWEVER, CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, A LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR SMOKERS, BECOMES MORE LIKELY WITH AS FEW AS 3 CIGARETTES PER DAY.
WHEN A PERSON IS SMOKING, THE SMOKE THAT COMES OUT OF THE OTHER SIDE OF THEIR CIGARETTE IS CALLED SECONDHAND SMOKE. THIS SMOKE IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE HARMFUL THAN THE SMOKE A PERSON INHALES WHILE SMOKING, MAINLY BECAUSE THE OTHER SIDE HAS A FILTER ON IT. SO IN A SMOKE-FILLED ROOM, NON-SMOKERS ARE BREATHING AIR THAT IS EVEN WORSE THAN SMOKING A CIGARETTE.
MOST SMOKERS THAT TRY TO QUIT SMOKING FAIL ON THEIR FIRST TRY. THIS IS BECAUSE NICOTINE ADDICTION IS EXTREMELY POWERFUL. IN FACT, NICOTINE IS COMPARABLE TO HEROIN AND COCAINE IN TERMS OF ADDICTION POTENTIAL. IN ADDITION, CIGARETTES HAVE BEEN ALTERED BY THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY FOR DECADES TO MAKE NICOTINE ADDICTION START EVEN EARLIER.
SMOKERS WHO DIE FROM TOBACCO-RELATED DISEASES DIE 14 YEARS BEFORE NON-SMOKERS. 95% OF THOSE NON-SMOKERS LIVE THOSE ADDITIONAL 14 YEARS WITHOUT DISABILITY. ELDERLY SMOKERS LIVE THEIR LIVES WITH MORE DISEASE AND DISABILITY THAN NON-SMOKERS, WITH THE AVERAGE MENTAL HEALTH OF SOMEONE 10 YEARS OLDER THAN THEM AND PHYSICAL HEALTH OF 2 TO 4 YEARS OLDER THAN THEM. IN OTHER WORDS, A 55 YEAR-OLD SMOKER IS LIKELY TO FEEL 60 OR 65 YEARS OLD.
STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT WHEN CLEAN INDOOR AIR POLICIES HAVE BEEN ENACTED IN RESTAURANT AND/OR BARS, REVENUES ACTUALLY GO UP! CONSIDERING THAT ABOUT 75% OF ADULTS DON'T SMOKE, IT MAKES SENSE THAT THEY WILL GO OUT TO EAT, DRING AND DANCE MORE OFTEN IF THEY DON'T COME OUT SMELLING LIKE A SMOKTER! CLEAN INDOOR AIR BOOSTS THE ECONOMY.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Learn more about tobacco at these sites.
