Call for a Total Ban on all Tobacco Products in Singapore

I Call for Total Ban on All Tobacco products for our health and for protecting our children from exposure to second and third hand smoke.

According to http://www.drugabuse.gov (http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/cigarettes-other-tobacco-products)

"Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cigarette smoking results in more than 480,000 premature deaths in the United States each year—about 1 in every 5 U.S. deaths—and an additional 16 million people suffer with a serious illness caused by smoking. In fact, for every one person who dies from smoking, about 30 more suffer from at least one serious tobacco-related illness.The harmful effects of smoking extend far beyond the smoker. Exposure to secondhand smoke can cause serious diseases and death. Each year, an estimated 88 million nonsmoking Americans are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke and almost 41,000 nonsmokers die from diseases caused by secondhand smoke exposure."

Many people died from tobacco products or suffer from many illnesses. The worst drug that the modern civilization because smokers harm other non smokers and this is addictive, a chronic disease. My father was addicted to tobacco and died of lung cancer. "Cigarette smoking accounts for about one-third of all cancers, including 90 percent of lung cancer cases. Smokeless tobacco (such as chewing tobacco and snuff) also increases the risk of cancer, especially oral cancers. In addition to cancer, smoking causes lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and increases the risk of heart disease, including stroke, heart attack, vascular disease, and aneurysm. Smoking has also been linked to leukemia, cataracts, and pneumonia. On average, adults who smoke die 10 years earlier than nonsmokers...", according to drugabuse.gov.

Tobacco products MUST be totally banned, as classified as illegal killing drug. World Health Organization (WHO) MUST take the lead to get this as illegal drug and with total ban.

If you're addicted, you should seek help. If we're exposed to second smoke, we should stay away or because we will be harmed through second hand or third hand smoking. There are all good reasons to ban all tobacco. Beside, we can see cigarette butt in many places. They are part of cause for disease, fire in forest, harming the environment, etc.

"While we often think of medical consequences that result from direct use of tobacco products, passive or secondary smoke also increases the risk for many diseases. Secondhand smoke, also known as environmental tobacco smoke, consists of exhaled smoke and smoke given off by the burning end of tobacco products.

Nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25–30 percent and lung cancer by 20–30 percent. In addition; secondhand smoke causes health problems in both adults and children, such as coughing, overproduction of phlegm, reduced lung function and respiratory infections, including pneumonia and bronchitis.. Each year about 150,000 – 300,000 children younger than 18 months old experience respiratory tract infections caused by secondhand smoke. Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk of ear infections, severe asthma, respiratory infections and death. In fact, more than 100,000 babies have died in the past 50 years from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and other health complications as a result of parental smoking. Children who grow up with parents who smoke are more likely to become smokers, thus placing themselves (and their future families) at risk for the same health problems as their parents when they become adults.

Although quitting can be difficult, the health benefits of smoking cessation are immediate and substantial—including reduced risk for cancers, heart disease, and stroke. A 35-year-old man who quits smoking will, on average, increase his life expectancy by 5 years." according to drugabuse.gov

Singapore should take a lead in total ban of tobacco products. According to Yuen Sin article at The Straits Times on Dec 16, 2015, "the smoking rates among young men are still high, and rates among young women are creeping up."

We have done so many measures but the rates are going higher each time. It is addictive, so the smokers generally once addicted, they will suffer for lives and harm others for lives. It must be stopped and they must be treated to get rid of addiction."..the annual social costs of smoking could be as high as $839 milion." quoted from Yuen Sin article.

I salute to Bhutan for the country to be first for a total ban on all tobacco products. And I call Singapore and the rest of the countries to act on a total ban on all tobacco products, for the health of their people and their future generations.

The more people coming together will gain louder voice and strength for a Total Ban on All Tobacco Products.