Feature magazine of The Daily Tar Heel.
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Thursday, February 21, 1980
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Kicking the tobacco habit
is tough but not impossible
with the right kind of help
DTHJay Hyman
By SUSAN LADD
Last November 1 joined 30 million other Americans who quit
smoking.
Today, there are more than 50 million smokers in the United
States alone. It is estimated that cigarette smoking is responsible for
325,000 deaths each year from cancer and other diseases of the lung,
heart and circulatory system.
But not ail the statistics are as negative. Nearly one-third of all those
who have ever smoked are no longer smokers and approximately
half of current smokers have tried to quit at least once. Since a 1964
Surgeon General's report officially recognized the dangers of
smoking, the percentage of male smokers has decreased from 52 to
39 percent in 1975, and the proportion of female smokers declined
from 32 to 29 percent.
Current statistics also reflect a growing awareness of the dangers
posed by cigarette smoking. In 1975, about 90 percent of the adult
population believed that smoking was dangerous to health and 84
percent believed that smoking was harmful enough that something
l should be done about it. Approximately 82 percent of the general
population believed that smoking caused death and disease, and 70
percent of smokers agreed.
One? result of this awareness is the growing number of stop
smoking programs springing up across the nation. Methods,
approaches and theories are wide-ranging, but all are aimed at
helping people kick the habit.
As one who knew of the risks before she started smoking, I began
to smoke with the clear realization that I would eventually have to
stop if I valued my health. At first, I only smoked occasionally, when
under pressure. But it was not long before my smoking was more
than occasional and became an integral part of my day-to-day
routine.
See SMOKING on page 4 '
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The newest film 'wave
. . .See page 3
California Odyssey
.. .See page 7
Titillating trash
. . .Sec page 7
Carolina Picassos
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