Tobacco use is the number one leading preventable cause of death and disease in Ontario killing over 13,000 people each year (Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care). Cigarettes should be illegal in Ontario. Smoking cigarettes harm your body, smoking affects those around you negatively and the billions of dollars in funds used to treat tobacco-related issues could go to use elsewhere. Firstly, smoking cigarettes is extremely harmful to your body. Almost all of the organs in your body are affected by cigarette use. There are upwards of 15 possible cancers you are more likely to contract if you smoke cigarettes. These include esophageal, lung, liver, stomach, bladder, cervical and pancreatic cancer (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). With each cigarette, you're inhaling thousands of deadly chemicals. In each cigarette, there are over 7,000 chemicals- 250 of which are harmful, over 70 of them being carcinogenic (National Cancer Institute). Smoking can affect up to 10 systems of the body including the respiratory, circulatory, immune, reproductive, digestive and central nervous system (Better Health Australia). Smoking cigarettes harms an active smokers body in many different ways, Ontario would be a healthier place if smoking was illegal. .
Secondly, second and thirdhand smoke harms everybody, not just the active smoker. Secondhand smoke kills people. Over 800 non-smoking Canadians die from secondhand smoke each year (Canadian Cancer Society). Those people made the right choice, and still died from the smoke of their fellow Canadians. Second and thirdhand smoke causes cancer and disease in pets as well. Pet care expert, Dr. Karen Becker says "In most households, your cats and dogs can't get away from polluted air, unless they are fortunate enough to have a "doggie door" that leads outdoors. Most animals are trapped, victims of their owners' habits, and opening a window is not enough.
