Quote:
Originally Posted by Tightwad
Column: Peeking Out From Salem: The status of smoking in America - Beverly, MA - Salem Gazette
"Smoking is the most common cause of preventable death. Approximately 450,000 people die from tobacco-related causes each year. About 200,000 of them (44 percent) are substance abusers or mentally ill (SAMI) persons. (The SAMI population consumes 44 percent of all cigarettes smoked in America.) Compared to the general population, people with chronic mental illness die 25 years earlier. Cigarette smoking is a major contributor."
It is very important to pay close attention to the numbers here and how they shake out. By doing so you will see 1/2 of the smoking deaths are junkies and the mentally ill...those not able to live a normal life.
Then the statement "most common cause" should not be read as "the ONLY cause" which most people will. Also 450,000 is a very small number on a percentage basis when compared to all other causes of death.
The hammer comes down hard on Cigarettes since they are the most common method of tobacco use but it should also be noted that the story details the cancer causing chemicals used to make a cigarette even more deadly that are not used in other tobacco products.
And the world..........
“The ACP has recognized that these WHO guidelines should not be adopted. Their message to the WHO is very clear; impacted stakeholders must be properly consulted before decisions are taken.”
ITGA: 79 Developing Countries Say No to World Health Organisation
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Seriously....
Do WE have to keep re hashing this?
You and your croney can keep deluding yourselves about how "innocuous" smoking is all you want.....problem is....no one else with an IQ over 25 is buying what you are selling...
By the way....how do you define " a small percentage" where YOU come from...
The figure you cited....thats number of deaths per year in the United States ALONE!!!!
There are approximately 2.4 million deaths PER YEAR in the US
YOU have cited the fact that 450K of those deaths can be attributed to smoking...
Thats roughly 20%.....
1 out of 5 deaths in the US attributable to smoking...
Small percentage??? Don't think so....
NOW consider the fact that a decided minority of Americans are current or even past smokers....
That's a pretty significant mortality risk....or as most studies show, about 1 out of every 2 smokers dying from their "habit"
I also don't get what the heck you are talking about when you point out that the author states...."Tobacco use is the most common cause of preventable death"
You feel the need to point out "most common" doesn't equal "only"
Gee...no kidding
That doesn't LESSEN the impact or change the meaning of that statement...
There are PLENTY of causes of preventable death....smoking is STILL chief among them no matter how many you list....how does pointing out that smoking is not the ONLY preventable cause of death lessen the impact of that statement...
What rubbish....
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