Smoking: Outlaw Tobacco Entirely Essay -- Health

Smoking: Outlaw Tobacco Entirely Smoking in America can be traced for thousands of years. Ancient pictures depict Native Americans smoking pipes. Christopher Columbus discovered tobacco during his travels to Cuba in 1493 and took it Europe. The tobacco plant itself was first grown and used in 6000 BC in America. Tobacco comes from the harvested leaves of the Nicotiana plant. Tobacco contains nicotine along with other substances that are found in cigarettes, smokeless tobacco products such as snuff, and cigars. The nicotine is the addictive portion of tobacco products. Introducing nicotine to the human body stimulates nerve cells, creating either a relaxing or an anxious feeling. In fewer than ten seconds after a cigarette’s smoke is inhaled nicotine enters the brain. Upon building up a tolerance, dependence is formed. During the 1950’s Philip Morris created a tough cowboy character that was used to advertise filtered cigarettes. This character was known as the Marlboro Man. The Marlboro Man was a way to convey images of strength and sexiness to the male population. During the women’s liberation in the 1920’s and 1930’s smoking became popular to the female population as they were fighting for the right to vote and fighting for working the same jobs as men. Cigarette companies geared their product toward women by advertising cigarettes as symbols of strength and equality to women during this time. After World War II, women were sought after by ads focusing on their appearance. Cigarette companies portrayed smoking as sophisticated, feminine, stylish, and attractive to men. Smoking has gone from a sophisticated, elegant, normal look in the early decades, to the offensive, unhealthy, unwanted look it is today. People have not alway... ...one. Works Cited Bjornlund, Lydia. Teen Smoking. San Diego: Reference Point Press, 2010. Print. Ignatavicius, Donna D. and M. Linda Workman. Medical-Surgical Nursing. 6th ed. St. Louis: Sunders, 2009. Print. Schaler, Jeffrey A., and Magda E. Schaler. Smoking: Who Has the Right. New York: Prometheus Books, 1998. Print. â€Å"Smoking Bans in Public Places Are Beneficial.† Tobacco and Smoking. Ed. Kelly Wand. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. From â€Å"Reasons for Banning Smoking in Certain Public Outdoor Areas.† ash.org. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 10 May 2012. Turlington, Cristy, and Deanna Staffo. Let’s Clear the Air: 10 Reasons Not to Start Smoking. Montreal: Lobster Press, 2007. Print. Vesterman, William. Reading and Writing Short Arguments. 5th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005. Print.