Cancers of the mouth, lip, nose, larynx, pharynx, tongue, and throat are common in smokers. They also cause cancer of the bladder, kidney, stomach, pancreas, and oesophagus. Myeloid leukemia is also thought to be caused in part by smoking. Nicotine has also been indicted in many types of ulcers, Crohn's Disease, Buerger's Disease, osteoporosis, cataracts, and periodontitis. Visual impairments such as macular degeneration are also caused by the hardening of the small blood vessels of the eyes. Women who smoke when pregnant tend to have low birth weight babies who often experience more complications right after birth. Smoking also can cause impotence in males (Tobacco Industry and Health Risks of Smoking, 2-4). Additionally, according to the American Lung Association, when children use tobacco products they are more likely to become involved in a wide range of behaviors, such as fights, carrying weapons, engaging in high-risk sexual behavior, and using alcohol and other drugs (Adolescent Smoking Statistics 2002, 1-2). British doctors have compared the addictiveness of nicotine with that of heroin and cocaine (Reaney 2002, 1). The medical and social problems caused by nicotine jeopardize the health and social life of its users and society. .
In addition to the inherent dangers of any tobacco use, the forces putting them into the hands of the public add to that danger by increasing tobacco's addictiveness and cancer-causing potential, while targeting children to lure them into addiction at a young age. According to evidence gathered by ASH and ICF, tobacco manufacturers add substances to cigarettes to increase the addictiveness of their product. The better tasting and more addictive tobacco hooks more people on the smoking habit. They use chocolate and sweeteners to make their products more appealing to children. Two additives, Eugenol and menthol, are commonly used in cigarettes to cover up the aggravating effects tobacco smoke has on the throat of the smoker.
