Replies

Even if every drug addict actually died, it would still be less than the numbers that die due to smoking alone each year. And where, praytell, do you get your figures on smoking deaths from? Hopefully it's not the CDC as all they do is make ESTIMATES based on a computer program that is GIGO. If from any other site that is not scientifically based, it's probably an anti-smoking site.

Yeah it probably was the CDC. What are some better sources? and what are their numbers? The CDC says 1995-1999, smoking caused approximately 440,000 premature deaths in the United States annually and approximately $157 billion in annual health-related economic losses. What are your numbers and your sources?

Also, are you trying to tell me that filling your lungs with smoke and tar and nicotine is good for them? Furhtermore, please tell me why do so many smokers cough and wheeze and cant run as fast or as far or as long or uphill as non-smokers?

The CDC says 1995-1999, smoking caused approximately 440,000 premature deaths in the United States annually and approximately $157 billion in annual health-related economic losses. What are your numbers and your sources?

Like I said, the CDC bases their numbers on estimates from a computer program. They classify the death of ANYONE that has EVER smoked as a smoking related death. Whether that person was 70, 80, 90 years of age or over or whether that person was 25 years of age..
I don't have any numbers because you won't find a death certificate with the cause of death as "smoking".

Don't put words in my mouth. In your opinion, are there other things that are legal that are as bad as smoking? Is there another vice/habit that provides money AGAINST itself by order of the government?
I'm sure that there are many things that are better for you than smoking. It has been proven that smoking can be a risk factor for certain health related problems. Environmental Tobacco Smoke hasn't been proven to harm ANYONE that doesn't have a pre-existing medical condition. Even as hard as they have tried.

As for smokers not being able to physically keep up with non-smokers - I know smokers that run half, and full, marathons. Not all, probably not many.
It's just like anything else, some are couch potatos and some are not.

Could you please tell me what you consider a premature death?

You do realize that the CDC considers anyone who has ever smoked even one cigarette in their life to be a smoker? And therefore when they die it is a premature death due to smoking, even if they were killed in an auto accident?

Don't bother laughing, becauuse I am not joking.

BTW - I do a 4 minute 10 second mile. And I'm a smoker - no wheezing problem here