Stunted Growth and Similar Weight

A study published in the Journal Annals of Epidemiology has revealed that smoking will stunt the growth of teenage boys by 2.54 centimetres compared to boys who are non-smokers. The study also concluded that smoking would not make teenage girls skinner than their counterparts who are non-smokers. These findings are useful prevention messages to convince teenagers to never start smoking because “girls might not start smoking if they realize that they will not end up skinner than girls who don’t smoke {and} boys may not start smoking if they think they might end up shorter and smaller overall if they smoke” (Dr. Jennifer O’Loughlin).

Many girls have preconceived beliefs that if they start smoking they will become skinner. The study found that girls who smoke are similar in weight to those who don’t smoke; which may help deter their reasoning to start smoking in the first place.  The study also supports the saying ‘don’t smoke, it will stunt your growth.’ It is suggested the reasoning behind this may be due to the fact that teenage boys who smoke are still growing during this stage. These findings reveal the truth behind smoking and it should ideally be “integrated into prevention messages to help persuade teens not to start smoking” (O’Loughlin).
                                            

Little Harry Puffer

Daniel Radcliffe was once known as little Harry Potter but is now being seen as big Harry Puffer. Producers of Harry Potter are nervous that he will tarnish his youngster image by trading his broomstick in for cancer sticks. His smoking habit could ruin his image and send out the wrong message to millions of his young adoring fans. It appears that every time the director says ‘cut’ Daniel lights up. Apparently his “movie bosses are said to be worried Daniel’s habit could tarnish his schoolboy image and have reportedly told him no to smoke in public.” However, this message has not hit home because Daniel continues to puff away when he goes out in public. His friends and Harry Potter co-stars are worried about his pack-a-day habit and have been urging him to quit. Without taking notice to their concerns on the dangers of smoking, his co-stars have coined the nickname Harry Puffer.

 

 

Swayze Still Smoking 

Patrick Swayze has been warned by his doctors that he must quit smoking to increase his odds of beating his battle with pancreatic cancer. However Swayze has yet to kick his nicotine habit after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January. The Dirty Dancing and Ghost star is a heavy smoker who once admitted to blazing through three packs a day. This has many people wondering if Swayze’s unhealthy habits may have contributed to this serious disease. It’s not clear if his cancer may not have been preventable but “up to a third of pancreatic cancers may be linked to smoking. Cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco all increase pancreatic cancer risk. Cigarette smoke contains chemicals called nitrosamines. Nitrosamines are carcinogenic” (CancerHelp.org). With the odds stacked against him, we hope that Swayze will put out the butts in an effort to increase his chances of putting out his deadly disease.

  

 Graphic Images Deter Smoking 

A new survey conducted by the Cancer Institute NSW determined that teenagers thought smoking seemed really unattractive and uncool when they were exposed to the damages it causes. The survey concluded that they were less likely to light up after watching graphic and gruesome images on television. Australians might need to brace themselves for shocking and horric images on the effects tobacco causes. A 2008 study surveyed 400 teenagers ranging from 13 to 17 from New South Wales after watching a foot being amputated due to the infection of gangrene caused by smoking. Although these graphics are shocking and gruesome, the results from the survey determine it had a positive response to teenagers' views on smoking.

Verity Firth,  Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer) explains that "watching gruesome images about the consequences of smoking is a small price to pay compared to the damage tobacco causes. Most importantly, nearly 80 per cent of young people said that the most graphic and confronting anti-smoking ad made them less likely to smoke and made smoking seem uncool and very unattractive." With the promotion and glamourisation of tobacco in the film industry, maybe this is the exposure we need our kids to see. This is an effective tool in getting the message to young people that smoking isn't attractive or cool, and it will cause serious damage to their health.

No laughing matter

Even the law didn't stop Jack Nicholson from lighting up in a smoke-free venue during a promotional event at a London hotel. Staff at the Claridges hotel gave Nicholson star treatment by granting him permission to puff away inside the hotel at his own discretion. This prompted the anti-smoking group Ash to reiterate the fact that "nobody is above the law [and] the manager or owner of the premises has a duty to remind the offender of the law. It's rather disappointing." The smoke-free venue law was put in place in July of 2007 to prohibit ALL individuals from lighting-up so that everyone could enjoy a healthier atmosphere. 

A spokesperson for the council responded to why Nicholson didn't recieve a fine like everyone else would have recieved by stating "we trust this was an innocent mistake by Mr. Nicholson who after all does not live in the UK and may not be fully aware of the law." You decide - was this an honest mistake on the hotel staff or did Nicholson's Hollywood status give him 'above the law' treatment?

 

                                                                       

 

Jack, laws are no laughing matter!                

 

  

Quit tips  -  Hollywood style

Ben Affleck decided to finally kick the 20 year habit after finding out he was going to have a child. Long time best friend and Hollywood actor Matt Damon suggested hypnosis as a way to end his battle with nicotine. Affleck soon realized the tremendous difference in his health and the importance of putting his family first.

"I finally decided to quit smoking when I was gonna have a child. That was the thing that sort of put it over the top for me. This is asinine that I've been doing this to myself for all theses years. I feel a huge differnce in my health now that I don't smoke. I feel like I'm in better shape than I was five years ago." 

 

Check if the film you want to see contains smoking. 
Look at the latest box office hits in Australia for a breakdown.

 

MYTH: I’m just a social smoker – its not hurting me Even occasional smokers have an increased risk of cancer

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