New York could become the first state requiring all outpatient addiction treatment programs to help their clients quit smoking under proposed legislation. The law would only encourage alcoholics and drug addicts to quit smoking, not require it. Those who agree to quit smoking would be provided with treatment including drugs to relieve cravings, while patients who refuse to quit could still be treated for other addictions as long as they don't smoke in the treatment facilities. The ban would also apply to treatment center workers. Whether this will increase the success rates of alcohol and drug rehab is in dispute.
New Jersey has required residential addiction programs to treat nicotine addiction and be smoke-free since 2001, but officials in New York say it would be the first state to require smoking cessation efforts in outpatient programs, which account for two-thirds of the 1,100 treatment alcohol and drug rehab programs in the state. Programs in New York that fail to comply with the smoking regulations could lose state certification and would have to stop treating clients.
It has generally been thought that asking patients to quit smoking while fighting addictions to alcohol or drugs like heroin or cocaine is asking too much. But state officials say a deeper understanding about addiction "triggers" and the dangers of tobacco itself have changed the consensus. Karen M. Carpenter-Palumbo, the commissioner of the substance abuse agency that oversees all state-sanctioned alcohol and drug rehab facilities, said in a written statement, "We now know that's not true. Including tobacco dependence while treating other addictions actually leads to higher recovery success rates. We need to focus on the overall wellness of our patients and not ignore this deadly addiction."
However, the higher recovery success rates Carpenter-Palumbo refers to are disputed in the scientific community. One recent study from the University of Minnesota found that recovery rates are actually lower if patients are weaned off cigarettes while they are trying to break free of alcohol or drugs. And according to Dr. Richard Hurt, the director of the Nicotine Dependence Center at the Mayo Clinic, most studies have shown that treating nicotine addiction along with alcohol and drug addiction has no effect on treatment effectiveness.
According to the U.S. National Institute against Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA), between 80 and 95 per cent of alcoholics smoke cigarettes - three times higher than among the general population. And a recent Research Society on Alcoholism study using advanced magnetic resonance imaging on human brains found that cigarette smoking not only worsens alcohol-induced brain damage (which was already known) it also causes brain damage by itself. And there are strong links between some forms of cancer and the combination of drinking and smoking.
So it seems uncertain at this point if quitting smoking will help alcohol and drug abusers recover from their addictions and stay clean after completing alcohol or drug rehab. But even if only for the improvements in long-term mental and physical health, it seems to be a good idea to try quitting smoking while recovering from addiction at an alcohol or drug rehab center.
Showing posts with label Substance Abuse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Substance Abuse. Show all posts
Monday, August 16, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Regulations For Smoking Shelters
In making your preparations for the introduction of the Smokefree provisions on 1 July 2007 in the UK, it is advised that you are particularly careful with any plans for outdoor smoking shelters that could lead to significant wasted expenditure if it goes wrong. This guide aims to help you make the right choices, although it should not be relied upon as a definitive interpretation of the law of the UK Smoking Ban
What counts as a smoking shelter?
There is no legal definition, and you don't have to provide one. It will be illegal to smoke or allow smoking in enclosed or substantially enclosed premises, therefore a smoking shelter has to be less than substantially closed. This means that 50% of it's sides must be permanently open.
The location is also important, because building a structure like this with an open side too close to a wall or other obstruction could mean that it no longer complies. (the law refers to premises rather than structures, and an adjacent wall could be deemed to be part of the premises of your shelter.
Some other problems to avoid
* You may need planning permission, depending on the size of the smoking shelter
* You can't provide temporary covers for any of the open parts-this stops them being counted as permanently open
* Customers outside your premises may cause noise or other nuisance problems for neighbours, and this may trigger a review of your certificate/licence
* You will need to provide some form of bin for your customers litter
There are alternatives for smoking shelters such as :
* Awnings
* Umbrellas and Parasols
* Golf umbrellas for customers to borrow
* One Scottish pub has recently been loaning waterproof coats to customers, with "stolen from Buddies Bar" printed on the back
Another common mistake made by some in Scotland and Ireland has been to cover an existing yard with an awning. Because the yard has 4 walls and the awning provides a roof covering,even temporarily, the yard falls into the category of substantially enclosed premises even when the awning is withdrawn.
What counts as a smoking shelter?
There is no legal definition, and you don't have to provide one. It will be illegal to smoke or allow smoking in enclosed or substantially enclosed premises, therefore a smoking shelter has to be less than substantially closed. This means that 50% of it's sides must be permanently open.
The location is also important, because building a structure like this with an open side too close to a wall or other obstruction could mean that it no longer complies. (the law refers to premises rather than structures, and an adjacent wall could be deemed to be part of the premises of your shelter.
Some other problems to avoid
* You may need planning permission, depending on the size of the smoking shelter
* You can't provide temporary covers for any of the open parts-this stops them being counted as permanently open
* Customers outside your premises may cause noise or other nuisance problems for neighbours, and this may trigger a review of your certificate/licence
* You will need to provide some form of bin for your customers litter
There are alternatives for smoking shelters such as :
* Awnings
* Umbrellas and Parasols
* Golf umbrellas for customers to borrow
* One Scottish pub has recently been loaning waterproof coats to customers, with "stolen from Buddies Bar" printed on the back
Another common mistake made by some in Scotland and Ireland has been to cover an existing yard with an awning. Because the yard has 4 walls and the awning provides a roof covering,even temporarily, the yard falls into the category of substantially enclosed premises even when the awning is withdrawn.
Monday, August 2, 2010
How to Quit Smoking Without Annoying Anyone
Everyone wants to quit smoking... except of course for those who were wise enough not to start in the beginning. But those of us who were wise, are also very judgmental (not too wise) of those who continue to smoke even though they know that there are hundreds of statistics that say smoking causes death of some sort.
I have a mother-in-law who has emphysema but continues to smoke. I want to shake her and say "What in the world are you doing?? You're going to die if you don't stop smoking!" but I know better. She is my mother-in-law you know... and would most likely be my X-Mother-in-Law if I said that to her.
Anyway, smoking is a serious thing. I have been told it is extremely difficult. I think the reason it is so hard to quit is because ones desire to quit smoking most of the time is just not as strong as ones desire to smoke... period. That is why I think most attempts to stop smoking do not work.
So when looking for a way to stop smoking, look for a way that would make your desire to stop smoking greater than your desire to smoke. My goodness, this is starting to sound like a math equation. But hey, maybe if we turn it into one, it will make more sense. The equation is...
Desire to quit smoking > Desire to smoke (for those who stunk at math, ">" means "greater")
Since we are into equations now, we mine as well add another:
Smoking = Death (ok, but who is being judgmental).
Anyway, the following ways to quit smoking do nothing to change ones desires and therefore, are typically ineffective:
* Patches (Have you ever heard of anyone that stopped smoking by using this method... and how many times have you tried this and it didn't work?)
* Cold turkey" (They should probably call this "hot turkey" instead of a cold turkey since you wouldn't want to get near someone who is quitting smoking "cold turkey"!)
* Exercise (How many people do you know who smoke and exercise, too??)
* Chewing Gum (How much sense does this make? Typically most people who want to stop smoking are older and wouldn't chew gum to save their life unless they wanted all of their fillings to come out. )
So what is the best method to quit smoking? You need to change your mind... change how you think... change what you find "appealing"/desirable.
So how is that done? Aha! The answer is simple... psychology. Think about it. Remember how you manipulated your kids... I mean "trained them". How many ways did you use psychology to get them to do what they should do?? Be honest. It works! So when looking for a method to stop smoking, look for a class or a book ... one that manipulates... I mean "trains" your brain to make your desire to quit smoking greater than your desire to smoke. It's that simple.
I have a mother-in-law who has emphysema but continues to smoke. I want to shake her and say "What in the world are you doing?? You're going to die if you don't stop smoking!" but I know better. She is my mother-in-law you know... and would most likely be my X-Mother-in-Law if I said that to her.
Anyway, smoking is a serious thing. I have been told it is extremely difficult. I think the reason it is so hard to quit is because ones desire to quit smoking most of the time is just not as strong as ones desire to smoke... period. That is why I think most attempts to stop smoking do not work.
So when looking for a way to stop smoking, look for a way that would make your desire to stop smoking greater than your desire to smoke. My goodness, this is starting to sound like a math equation. But hey, maybe if we turn it into one, it will make more sense. The equation is...
Desire to quit smoking > Desire to smoke (for those who stunk at math, ">" means "greater")
Since we are into equations now, we mine as well add another:
Smoking = Death (ok, but who is being judgmental).
Anyway, the following ways to quit smoking do nothing to change ones desires and therefore, are typically ineffective:
* Patches (Have you ever heard of anyone that stopped smoking by using this method... and how many times have you tried this and it didn't work?)
* Cold turkey" (They should probably call this "hot turkey" instead of a cold turkey since you wouldn't want to get near someone who is quitting smoking "cold turkey"!)
* Exercise (How many people do you know who smoke and exercise, too??)
* Chewing Gum (How much sense does this make? Typically most people who want to stop smoking are older and wouldn't chew gum to save their life unless they wanted all of their fillings to come out. )
So what is the best method to quit smoking? You need to change your mind... change how you think... change what you find "appealing"/desirable.
So how is that done? Aha! The answer is simple... psychology. Think about it. Remember how you manipulated your kids... I mean "trained them". How many ways did you use psychology to get them to do what they should do?? Be honest. It works! So when looking for a method to stop smoking, look for a class or a book ... one that manipulates... I mean "trains" your brain to make your desire to quit smoking greater than your desire to smoke. It's that simple.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Anit-Smoking Slogans
At least half of the world seems to enjoy the pleasures of smoking. However, the other half seems to be really up against it. From anti smoking laws to zero cigarette campaigns... this half of the world seems to have taken really serious steps in its battle against the fumes. The most effective tools that they employed are the slogans.
Slogans are words combined to form simple sentences or phrases which promote ideas. Since time immemorial, this has been used to promote general thoughts and even eccentric ideas. From "skin is in" to "no gut no glory", there are just too many slogans that have made their marks in the shaping of history. The same is true when it comes to the battle against smoking. Anti smoking slogans abound all over the world, in order to be a little closer to the elimination of this abominable vice.
Anti smoking slogans tackle every aspect of smoking and its effects in very few words. The most prominent ones are those which delve into the health concerns of people around the world. A perfect example of a health related anti smoking slogan is "Save your lungs, save your life". Indeed, the message here is clear. It says that the cause of various physical diseases can be traced down to smoking cigarettes. Other examples are "Breathe healthily, live happily" and "If you can't stop smoking, cancer will." These easy to remember and rhythmically rhymed slogans have been used by various anti smoking organizations in their campaign posters, banners and even televised public service plugs.
There are also anti smoking slogans which deal with the pollution that the use of cigarettes can cause. As you may know, smoke is harmful for the air. The constant smoking of millions of people everyday actually contributes to the air pollution here on earth. As such, slogans like "Share clean air" and "Everyone has a right to clean air" have been popular adages when it comes to discouraging smoking for environmental causes. Even the improper throwing of cigarette butts have been choice topics among environmental anti smoking slogans.
Last but not the least, there are also anti smoking slogans which discuss financial disadvantages caused by smoking. As you may well know, cigarettes are not the cheapest things on earth. In some countries like Singapore, they can even cause up to $10 a pack. As such, it can cause financial strain on average earners which have been hooked to the habit. An example of this is "Too much smoke will leave you broke". It is a clear statement on proper use of resources, instead of splurging on deadly vices.
If you are into the same cause, then you might want to make your own anti smoking slogan now if you can. It's fun, challenging and worthy of doing. The best thing about this is that you can actually save lives once your anti smoking slogan's message gets heard.
Slogans are words combined to form simple sentences or phrases which promote ideas. Since time immemorial, this has been used to promote general thoughts and even eccentric ideas. From "skin is in" to "no gut no glory", there are just too many slogans that have made their marks in the shaping of history. The same is true when it comes to the battle against smoking. Anti smoking slogans abound all over the world, in order to be a little closer to the elimination of this abominable vice.
Anti smoking slogans tackle every aspect of smoking and its effects in very few words. The most prominent ones are those which delve into the health concerns of people around the world. A perfect example of a health related anti smoking slogan is "Save your lungs, save your life". Indeed, the message here is clear. It says that the cause of various physical diseases can be traced down to smoking cigarettes. Other examples are "Breathe healthily, live happily" and "If you can't stop smoking, cancer will." These easy to remember and rhythmically rhymed slogans have been used by various anti smoking organizations in their campaign posters, banners and even televised public service plugs.
There are also anti smoking slogans which deal with the pollution that the use of cigarettes can cause. As you may know, smoke is harmful for the air. The constant smoking of millions of people everyday actually contributes to the air pollution here on earth. As such, slogans like "Share clean air" and "Everyone has a right to clean air" have been popular adages when it comes to discouraging smoking for environmental causes. Even the improper throwing of cigarette butts have been choice topics among environmental anti smoking slogans.
Last but not the least, there are also anti smoking slogans which discuss financial disadvantages caused by smoking. As you may well know, cigarettes are not the cheapest things on earth. In some countries like Singapore, they can even cause up to $10 a pack. As such, it can cause financial strain on average earners which have been hooked to the habit. An example of this is "Too much smoke will leave you broke". It is a clear statement on proper use of resources, instead of splurging on deadly vices.
If you are into the same cause, then you might want to make your own anti smoking slogan now if you can. It's fun, challenging and worthy of doing. The best thing about this is that you can actually save lives once your anti smoking slogan's message gets heard.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Top Reasons to Stop Smoking
There are an infinite number of reasons to stop smoking; be it because of you health, the effect it is having on your family, or simply your ever decreasing bank balance. No matter why you have made the decision; it is the right decision. Here are a few more excellent reasons to urge you on
Despite what you may've been led to believe through your life, smoking is neither cool, nor sexy.
Before we knew just how damaging smoking was for us, it did look cool for a man to have a cigarette gently hanging from the corner of his mouth; or for a woman to seductively draw on her with her big rouge lips.
Now, people just see some sad and uninteresting fools, often huddling alone on a street corner somewhere.
Which moves us swiftly on to another top reason to stop smoking; you aren't a fully paid up member of society.
Times are changing, with there being an increasing number of places where you are not allowed to smoke inside. Indeed, there are many places with laws prohibiting smoking in some external areas.
Essentially therefore, smokers are nothing more than pariahs; second class citizens, undesirables, and any other such superlatives you can think of!
Okay, so we have established that you look a little bit sad and are considered a little bit sad by everyone else. But what of you yourself; it doesn't get much better.
For a start, you absolutely reek to high heaven; all the time. Okay, so you can have a nice shower in that wonderfully scented Aloe Vera, Ylang-Ylang, Jasmine and Passion Fruit, Tropical Sunshine Exfoliating Shower Cream. But then you go and light up, and you smell like a dog's... You get the picture I am sure.
Then of course you have no real sense of smell, (which is lucky in many ways as you cannot smell your own stench), or indeed and sense of taste. No matter whether you are eating at your local Taco Bell or Chef Ramsay's latest venture in Manhattan, you can't taste jack.
Despite what you may've been led to believe through your life, smoking is neither cool, nor sexy.
Before we knew just how damaging smoking was for us, it did look cool for a man to have a cigarette gently hanging from the corner of his mouth; or for a woman to seductively draw on her with her big rouge lips.
Now, people just see some sad and uninteresting fools, often huddling alone on a street corner somewhere.
Which moves us swiftly on to another top reason to stop smoking; you aren't a fully paid up member of society.
Times are changing, with there being an increasing number of places where you are not allowed to smoke inside. Indeed, there are many places with laws prohibiting smoking in some external areas.
Essentially therefore, smokers are nothing more than pariahs; second class citizens, undesirables, and any other such superlatives you can think of!
Okay, so we have established that you look a little bit sad and are considered a little bit sad by everyone else. But what of you yourself; it doesn't get much better.
For a start, you absolutely reek to high heaven; all the time. Okay, so you can have a nice shower in that wonderfully scented Aloe Vera, Ylang-Ylang, Jasmine and Passion Fruit, Tropical Sunshine Exfoliating Shower Cream. But then you go and light up, and you smell like a dog's... You get the picture I am sure.
Then of course you have no real sense of smell, (which is lucky in many ways as you cannot smell your own stench), or indeed and sense of taste. No matter whether you are eating at your local Taco Bell or Chef Ramsay's latest venture in Manhattan, you can't taste jack.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
A Reality Check - Quit Smoking
As smoking laws make it more and more difficult for people to smoke outside their homes, it could be a good incentive to give it up.
Smoking has been banned in most public places including your favorite pub, so what are you going to do, stare into your beer and brood on the unfairness of it all - try to quit smoking, its definitely a better alternative. People are often discriminated against in offices and other places because of smoking and to many people the smell of tobacco is offensive. Another very good reason to consider giving up this bad habit is your health; 'smoking kills' is being printed in bigger and bolder letters on every pack sold. Tobacco companies have had to pay out huge sums when they were sued by cancer patients and the courts ruled in the patient's favor. Yet another reason to quit would be, second hand smoke is killing your loved ones. Puffing up a storm at home is endangering the lives of your family because second hand smoke is deadly.
You will find plenty of advice on the internet about tips to quit smoking, ten best ways to stop smoking and so on. Reading all the books in creation, using patches, chewing gum, none of it works if the will to stop smoking does not come from deep inside you. Anyone who advises you to cut down slowly till you stop is living a fool's dream! As long as your body gets the daily dose of nicotine you are never going to stop. The only way is to make a firm decision, throw away every single pack of cigarettes and all your lighters and STOP!
It will not be easy but you can do it! Good Luck!
Smoking has been banned in most public places including your favorite pub, so what are you going to do, stare into your beer and brood on the unfairness of it all - try to quit smoking, its definitely a better alternative. People are often discriminated against in offices and other places because of smoking and to many people the smell of tobacco is offensive. Another very good reason to consider giving up this bad habit is your health; 'smoking kills' is being printed in bigger and bolder letters on every pack sold. Tobacco companies have had to pay out huge sums when they were sued by cancer patients and the courts ruled in the patient's favor. Yet another reason to quit would be, second hand smoke is killing your loved ones. Puffing up a storm at home is endangering the lives of your family because second hand smoke is deadly.
You will find plenty of advice on the internet about tips to quit smoking, ten best ways to stop smoking and so on. Reading all the books in creation, using patches, chewing gum, none of it works if the will to stop smoking does not come from deep inside you. Anyone who advises you to cut down slowly till you stop is living a fool's dream! As long as your body gets the daily dose of nicotine you are never going to stop. The only way is to make a firm decision, throw away every single pack of cigarettes and all your lighters and STOP!
It will not be easy but you can do it! Good Luck!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Public Tobacco Smoking Laws Aid to Quit Smoking
The cigarette smoking habit has seen an evolution in its perception and acceptance. Early in its history tobacco smoking was viewed as actually being good for you. How untrue that tale turned out to be. Instead we now know what tobacco does. It causes problems like cancer, problems in the lungs and heart disease. Those are just the major risks involved. Others like the smell and the expense of the addiction all contribute to the bad side effects.
National awareness of these problems have legislated action and laws against tobacco smoking and the need to quit smoking. Some of these actions include the following.
Anti-Smoking Public Service Announcements: Truth is one very successful ad agency that has depicted the bad effects of smoking. They portray the tobacco industry as an evil empire. Their commercials are also cryptic in showing the effects of tobacco and smoking. The ads they show have even reached audiences of the NFL Super bowl.
Public Laws have also curtailed smoking on a social level. In many states around the USA smoking bans in social places like restaurants, bars and recreation facilities are banned. The states with such bans include:
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island,South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington Dc, Washington State, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
High taxes on cigarettes and cigars also cut deeper into the budgets of smokers. It is estimated that a smoker who starts early in his age will end up spending nearly two million dollars on cigarettes in his lifetime.
Agencies like insurance and health organizations also penalize smokers. This is accomplished with expensive fees and less services available due to the dangers of tobacco.
National awareness of these problems have legislated action and laws against tobacco smoking and the need to quit smoking. Some of these actions include the following.
Anti-Smoking Public Service Announcements: Truth is one very successful ad agency that has depicted the bad effects of smoking. They portray the tobacco industry as an evil empire. Their commercials are also cryptic in showing the effects of tobacco and smoking. The ads they show have even reached audiences of the NFL Super bowl.
Public Laws have also curtailed smoking on a social level. In many states around the USA smoking bans in social places like restaurants, bars and recreation facilities are banned. The states with such bans include:
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island,South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington Dc, Washington State, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
High taxes on cigarettes and cigars also cut deeper into the budgets of smokers. It is estimated that a smoker who starts early in his age will end up spending nearly two million dollars on cigarettes in his lifetime.
Agencies like insurance and health organizations also penalize smokers. This is accomplished with expensive fees and less services available due to the dangers of tobacco.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Second-Hand Smoking - Smoking Law Change in South Africa
Imagine yourself in your home in South Africa. It is a quiet moment, as you relax in front of the TV, or maybe you are in your garden enjoying the sunshine. Birds are singing in the trees, the sky is blue, you have earned a well-deserved time off and you feel good.
All of a sudden, you are ambushed. Two heroin addicts have broken into your home and are pinning you down. You cannot move. One is preparing a hypodermic needle. You instinctively know it has heroin in it and you want to scream "No!" but you are held down and silenced and there is nothing you can do but watch as the needle sinks into your vein and you feel the drug in your blood, along with whatever impurities were added to it. The heroin addicts saunter away, smirking at you, for even trying to stop this assault.
The next day, your body goes through a terrible reaction to the after-effects of this toxic injection. You become ill and have to take time off work. And just as you thought it was safe, the heroin addicts break into your home, one pins you down, and the other is holding a syringe and smirking at you. You know what is going to happen next and you are powerless to stop it...
Imagine this happening every day in your own home. Imagine that you now have to keep all your windows closed at all times, keep your eye on the lock, and be careful all the time. And then, when you think you are safe to go out to work or the shops, all of a sudden, you are ambushed again. You recognize the heroin addicts. Only this time there are four of them, you see the needle, you see them smirking at you, and you feel sick to your stomach knowing what is about to happen to you...
It is really awful, is it not? But if you are a smoker smoking illegally, then you are that addict. You are forcing your neighbour to take a drug that they choose not to take. You are forcing them to take this drug into their bloodstream whether they like it or not. If your workplace is near someone's home and you force them to smoke when you do, you are just like those heroin-injecting thugs in this story. It is one thing being an addict, and of course, the addiction is just that - something one cannot help. However, the law is now here to stop you from forcing innocent people to take your drug in their bloodstream.
Not convinced? Here are some facts that you may be interested in...
* The owner of a workplace, including pub, bar, restaurant, beauty salon, hairdresser, or any other workplace can be fined up to R50,000 if their premises breach the smoking laws.
* Not only can the owner of this establishment be fined, but you personally can be fined R500 for smoking in a non-smoking zone.
* Non-smoking zones include partially enclosed public places such as covered patios (such as by a roof or awnings), verandas, balconies, walkways, lifts, and parking areas.You can face up to your addiction and do something about it. Quitting may be much easier than you think.
Everyone should have the right to choose and the right to freedom. Nobody is taking away a smoker's addiction. That is a smoker's right. It was my right too when I was a smoker, and I know from experience how I just could not cope without nicotine. I would not suggest taking away an addict's drug; that is their choice, and that choice must be respected. I have been there myself. However, now it is now law that smokers must not take their drug in forms that are harmful to others in public places. And that also must be respected.
All of a sudden, you are ambushed. Two heroin addicts have broken into your home and are pinning you down. You cannot move. One is preparing a hypodermic needle. You instinctively know it has heroin in it and you want to scream "No!" but you are held down and silenced and there is nothing you can do but watch as the needle sinks into your vein and you feel the drug in your blood, along with whatever impurities were added to it. The heroin addicts saunter away, smirking at you, for even trying to stop this assault.
The next day, your body goes through a terrible reaction to the after-effects of this toxic injection. You become ill and have to take time off work. And just as you thought it was safe, the heroin addicts break into your home, one pins you down, and the other is holding a syringe and smirking at you. You know what is going to happen next and you are powerless to stop it...
Imagine this happening every day in your own home. Imagine that you now have to keep all your windows closed at all times, keep your eye on the lock, and be careful all the time. And then, when you think you are safe to go out to work or the shops, all of a sudden, you are ambushed again. You recognize the heroin addicts. Only this time there are four of them, you see the needle, you see them smirking at you, and you feel sick to your stomach knowing what is about to happen to you...
It is really awful, is it not? But if you are a smoker smoking illegally, then you are that addict. You are forcing your neighbour to take a drug that they choose not to take. You are forcing them to take this drug into their bloodstream whether they like it or not. If your workplace is near someone's home and you force them to smoke when you do, you are just like those heroin-injecting thugs in this story. It is one thing being an addict, and of course, the addiction is just that - something one cannot help. However, the law is now here to stop you from forcing innocent people to take your drug in their bloodstream.
Not convinced? Here are some facts that you may be interested in...
* The owner of a workplace, including pub, bar, restaurant, beauty salon, hairdresser, or any other workplace can be fined up to R50,000 if their premises breach the smoking laws.
* Not only can the owner of this establishment be fined, but you personally can be fined R500 for smoking in a non-smoking zone.
* Non-smoking zones include partially enclosed public places such as covered patios (such as by a roof or awnings), verandas, balconies, walkways, lifts, and parking areas.You can face up to your addiction and do something about it. Quitting may be much easier than you think.
Everyone should have the right to choose and the right to freedom. Nobody is taking away a smoker's addiction. That is a smoker's right. It was my right too when I was a smoker, and I know from experience how I just could not cope without nicotine. I would not suggest taking away an addict's drug; that is their choice, and that choice must be respected. I have been there myself. However, now it is now law that smokers must not take their drug in forms that are harmful to others in public places. And that also must be respected.
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