Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46By YM/LCpl Aidan Spath Atlantic Coast (FL) My Smoking Survey I collected a few different opinions of people regarding smoking. I set out to gather a few common reactions towards smoking. I asked four types of people: • A non-smoker • A peer smoker • A person who has smoked for more than 25 years, and finally • A person who smoked and quit. This was to get the most diverse num- ber of opinions possible. I was also interested in the opinions about recently passed smoking laws in Athens, GA, to prohibit any smoking in public facilities or parks. (By the way, the term “cold turkey” means to stop abruptly rather than gradually). The Non-Smoker The first person in my survey was a non-smoker named Mike S., 49 years of age. I had the fewest questions for him; A non-smoker, I expected that he would have the least experience with smoking. I began by asking if he had tried a cigarette before and what was his reac- tion to it. He had, in fact, once tried one and thought it tasted bad. This experience kept him away from smoking for the rest of his life. I then asked him why he tried smoking, and he responded by saying he wanted to know why everyone liked it so much. He said he had no early associations with cigarettes. I asked if he had any family or friends who smoked. He said that he did. He wishes that they didn’t, but it’s their choice. I asked about his opinion on smokers in general. He said that he didn’t care as long as they don’t smoke or leave dis- carded cigarettes near him. I asked him about a smokers’ health, compared to a non-smoker’s health. He said that smokers weren’t as healthy in general, but there are exceptions. My final question asked was how he felt about the new smoking laws in Ath- ens. He said that they have the right to ban smoking because it’s public property and that’s how the public voted on it. There wasn’t anything I disagreed with on Mike’s interview responses. Even though he did not begin smoking, he tried smoking, possibly owing to peer pressure. He tried it himself, but found it disgusting. The Peer Smoker The second person I interviewed was a peer-smoker who had already quit. Jay K.,39 years of age,is a neighbor of mine. He is self-employed. When I questioned him, I learned that he had smoked be- tween the ages of 21 to 31. When he first started smoking, he knew it was bad for his health, but thought it could be a social thing that would make it easier to get new friends. When I asked Jay about any early asso- ciation with smoking, Jay said he didn’t really have any contact with smokers, in fact, his father was very much against smoking. I asked him if smoking cigarettes was associated with being cool. He said it was, and he wanted to fit in. I asked if any of his current friends smoke. He said some did, but he always explains its dangers, and advises them not to not smoke. While he used to find smoking relaxing, after he quit he said that cigarettes now make him cough and feel poisoned. He quit smoking af- ter ten years, and did so cold turkey, or abruptly. I asked if he thought about the risks of cancer and emphysema when he smoked, and he responded that ciga- rettes make him think of cancer and he felt that such diseases can result from smoking. His family doesn’t smoke and they strongly oppose it (his sister had started smoking, too, but quit as well). I asked what he felt about the new smoking laws in Athens, and he stated that it was a good idea because expo- sure to second-hand smoke can affect the health of others as well. I believe the moral of Jay’s story is that even with full knowledge of what cigarettes can do to you, you might suc- cumb to its temptations. The best way to avoid getting ad- dicted is to first of all, avoid the situa- tion to begin with. Learn to say no to drug abuse, and get good friends you know will sup- port your decision. I agree completely with his actions of warning his friends constantly about the dangers and why they should quit. Doing this might help his friends’ health and save their lives. (Continued) Atlantic Coast: A Young Marine Surveys Smokers A Young Marine conducts a survey of non-smokers, smokers and former smokers to gather information about why they started, (or didn’t), why they quit, and one community’s effort to restrict smoking. Why? ESPRIT ONLINE | Page 16