Smokers - the new Canadian victims (38)

Is it just me or has anyone also noticed this - an overabundance of ad campaigns designed by the government to make smokers look like disgusting, evil people.

Local governments are quick to build methadone clinics to help people quit using IV drugs as it is a terrible addiction to cope with on many levels.

Would it not also benefit our society to build "patch clinics" or "Zyban clinics" instead of waging a personal war against smokers? Or at the very least, to give out the patch and nicotine gum for free with a prescription from your doctor.

The floor is yours.

Hey I think that if they dont want us smoking then make Canada a smoke free Nation. Shut down all of the tobacco companies, put people out of work. Im a smoker and have tried quitting many times with not much success. Just my .02 cents worth.

They could never do that because alcohol and tobacco are the biggest revenue makers in Canada...(my .02)

What i would like to say though is that i really resent how some people make smokers feel like second class citizens...

They have no problem with coming up to total stranger and reciting their views on the "evils" of smoking..how bad it is for their health and various other arguments...

These same people will however, watch an obese person head for the "buffet" table at a restaurant over and over again...before hitting the "dessert" table...but they will never dare to walk over to them and say..."what you are doing is soooo unhealthy for you..."

Now why is that???

I'd actually really like to know if someone has an answer to that one...

Nope i dont think its the government that much. I think people in general are getting tired of second hand smoke. The ads i see are more from agencies - Canadian Cancer Society, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Medical clinics, (most from non profit socities that put peoples needs first)etc that advertise smoking is bad for your health.....and i think they should.

Smoking sucks in my opinion! For those of you who do smoke that is your business. However, your smoke should be kept away from those of us who want to breath clean air. This does not mean i wont hang out with smokers because i do. But they all know how i feel about it and they respect that. (they go outside, in a different room or in your their own surrrondings)

As far as the patch type clinics goes. i donno coz i dont know much about it. I would have to learn more about this possible idea if it were being dicussed by our government before commenting. (Honestly, my first thought is no way.......That being said, i would be open to it and learning more about the free prescription idea if it was beneficial for society, but there is so many things to consider...who's gonna pay for it? do my taxes go up know? etc.)

I can appreciate and respect your views on "smokers" and "second hand smoke"...however..

I have the right to drive my car on a public street without the threat of a "drunk driver" (that's against the law by the way, smoking isn't) however...It happens...should we then schedule times for those that drink and drive and for those that don't drive at all (ie: smoking and non-smoking facilities)

Ohip covers surgery that makes overweight people a health risk...ummm they don't cover nicotine patches...

There are rehab programs for drug users...free handouts of drug paraphanalia and an assortment of drugs for those that are addicted (but in the interest to keep it controlled...)..Cigarettes if i choose to smoke them...I would have to buy...

I am being more sarcastic than anything here...but the point i am trying to make is that they have targeted smokers..and by no means am i not saying that it is not a worthy campaign...but lets be real here...if you start targeting one "bad habit"...what about the other "bad habits"...what makes one more fatal than the other?? (Personally i have never seen a person smoke a cigarette then get in behind the wheel of their car and kill someone...I have seen an alcoholic do that though....)

I am not advocating smoking by the way...I am just asking where is the fairness in it all??

...."and for those that don't drive at all "...

ooops sorry..I meant "and for those who don't drink at all..."

i am not sure i can relate to your analogies...but nonetheless point taken.

I am a smoker...


Smoking is bad for us, it does kill us, second hand smoke does have health effects on those near us.... I understand all of these things.... However, I do believe that we should have "smoking places" and non-smoking places" such as pubs and restaurants ect....

I am not going to go off on a tangence here, most of what I would say has already been said...

Just for the record though, I do understand where the non-smokers are coming from though and I can respect that. I don't smoke in my home or vehicles because I have a four year old son.


I think that if the government did give out the patch for free under OHIP that I would most definitely quit smoking. I hate this habit but cannot afford the patch nor can I quit cold turkey, and now that I think about it, it is kinda messed up that the needle users get needles to help quit but smokers just get fines.

i guess that most people see cigarette smoke as harmful to the smoker and others. if you are near someone smoking you still inhale it. someone being overweight will not hurt anyone else other than themselves. well thats my best attempt at an answer