Madam, – The reason the occasional smoker smokes (Ann Marie Hourihane, Opinion, November 1st), is most likely because they are addicted to nicotine. “Occasional smoker” is a term used by some smokers to cloak the addiction issue. The “occasional” part also suggests that, “my smoking is okay”.
Well-established medical research shows that smokers who smoke very few cigarettes will unfortunately have similar smoking-related disease risks to the heavy smoker: cancer and cardiovascular disease are the most prevalent risks.
Each cigarette contains up to 4,000 different chemicals, which enter the smokers’ lungs each time they inhale. As the health advert states: “Every cigarette is doing you damage”. All cigarettes contain carcinogens, which affect both the smoker and those nearby who inhale the passive smoke.
There is no protection in the “occasional cigarette”, despite the myth that is often bandied about to the contrary. – Yours, etc,