Historic smoking report marks 50th anniversary

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By MIKE STOBBE

ATLANTA (AP) - Fifty years ago, ashtrays seemed to be on every table and desk. Athletes and even Fred Flintstone endorsed cigarettes in TV commercials. Smoke hung in the air in restaurants, offices and airplane cabins. More than 42 percent of U.S. adults smoked, and there was a good chance your doctor was among them.

The turning point came on Jan. 11, 1964. It was on that Saturday morning that U.S. Surgeon General Luther Terry released an emphatic and authoritative report that said smoking causes illness and death - and the government should do something about it.

In the decades that followed, warning labels were put on cigarette packs, cigarette commercials were banned, taxes were raised and new restrictions were placed on where people could light up.

"It was the beginning," said Kenneth Warner, a University of Michigan public health professor who is a leading authority on smoking and health.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140104/DAB46DHO0.html

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This Monday, Oct. 13, 1997 file photo shows a cigarette vending machine in a bar in Montpelier, Vt. A law passed by the Legislature banned all cigarette vending machines in the state as of August 28, 1997, but Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell ruled that enforcement of the law would begin in March 1998. On Jan. 11, 1964, U.S. Surgeon General Luther Terry released an emphatic and authoritative report that said smoking causes illness and death - and the government should do something about it. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

[Historic NY]

1. Best thing I ever did was to break the habit.

[Tikki]

2. ABSOLUTELY…..me, also.

Sad, at jury duty this last Summer, some of the young ones on the panel told me
they had heard it was almost impossible to quit.

They seemed shocked when I told them that everyone I knew had quit smoking.

We need to get the word out…Quitting smoking is just that: Not smoking anymore
and not so hard to do, in reality.


Tikki

[bhikkhu]

3. Yes - the decision is the hard part

after that, not so much. Anyone capable of using their will should be capable of quitting smoking. Anyone not capable of using their will should be pissed off enough about that to still find a way.

[Mira]

4. Oh it's hard all right. And should be respected as such.

Nothing really worthwhile comes easy. Though it helps to remember that inch by inch its a cinch.

I live in cigarette city USA - Winston-Salem NC. Home of RJReynolds Tobacco Co.

50 years ago, if you were applying for a job in this city, you were counseled to smoke during the interview (even if you were a non-smoker) and it better be an RJR product if you wanted a chance to be hired.
I kid you not.
We've come a long way. Now I don't see many folks smoking any more, even here.

Edited to add that I smoked for 30 plus years, and started when a pack cost 25 cents.
Quit on 5/5/1998

[heaven05]

6. 44 years for me

quit September 12,2012. Congratulations!

[Tikki]

7. It is hard, in a way…but a lot is hype. It's like breaking a habit…you do something else...

instead…even if that something else is just breathing.

I worry the young ones aren't getting the information they need. But then, many just
aren't starting in the first place.

I quit when it just became impossible to live the family life, with hanging out with the grandkids
and all.

I just looked at myself and said …'do I want to have to isolate myself from people just to smoke an expensive cigarette?'

I had a buddy who quit with me and that helped…10 years now, smoke free... for both of us.


Tikki

[progree]

14. I found it hard as hell to quit

Months of one day, two day, and three day quits. With and without The Patch and with The Gum (that's all we had back then). Nicotine Anonymous meetings too. Quit smoking forums. Finally took an 8-week quit-smoking class sponsored by the American Lung Association -- it helps to quit with a group and have a quit buddy. And didn't want to throw away $125 that the class cost.

It varies a lot with people. I know some who quit with little effort ... it baffles me why they didn't try and quit earlier, given that for the last 10 years or so its been very expensive and such a pain in the rear to have to find a place to smoke when out and about.

I do feel for those who just can't quit. I really don't think I would have been able to quit if I had a stressful job. I was fortunate that I was unemployed at the time and just made quitting my only priority.

That was back in Oct 1997. 10/18/97. 16 years, 2 months and change.

I've heard lots of good things about Chantix. There are risk factors too, but nowhere as great as to continuing to smoke.

[Tikki]

15. Quit buddy and no one else at my home smoked….

Looking back it seemed hard…but we did it quick…like pulling off the band-aid.

It really is heartening to read here how many have quit. It is such a nasty, expensive habit…

Congratulations to you, and I respect all you did to get to where you are.


Tikki

[Skittles]

11. I think now, more peope have quit smoking than actually smoke

that's a lot of people!

[rurallib]

5. Wonder what % of adults smoked then compared to now

I am guessing that 50% or more smoked back then (including a 14 year old me)
Now I am guessing it is less than 20% but a very stubborn 20%

[Codeine]

8. Here's a table of US smoking rates over the years.

Your guesses weren't far off, at least for men.

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0762370.html

Edited to actually add the fuckin' table.

[Omaha Steve]

9. Table?

OOPS?

[Codeine]

10. Yeah, I never said I was the sharpest knife in the drawer.

Fixed it.

[Wolf Frankula]

12. I Call Smoking 'Butt Sucking'

And smokers 'Butt Junkies'

Wolf

[kwassa]

13. Quitting smoking is easy, I've done it hundreds of times.

but the last time was 1984.