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SHAME - Doesn't help, and I believe it actually harms, since it causes smokers to question their self-worth and self-efficacy. Think about it. If we make smokers feel foolish or weak for smoking, have we made it easier for them to be successful at quitting?
BLAME - There's enough to go around. Here are the "responsible parties" as I see it... 1.) Our government taxes addicted people and cuts funding to quit programs. In Massachusetts it was a 95% budget cut to what may have been the most successful tobacco prevention program in the country. And on THE VERY SAME DAY the Governor signed a bill to DOUBLE the tax on each pack of cigarettes sold. That would seem to suggest that the government has become addicted to tobacco tax revenue and has stopped serving as an agent of public health. 2.) Media companies who make $ix and $even figure agreements to secure tobacco products preferential placement in TV and movies are increasing smoking rates, especially among teens. They know it. The tobacco industry knows it (or they wouldn't be willing to pay for the "product placement.") 3.) The tobacco industry who has never told the truth about the health consequences of smoking, and has been trying to hide the truth about their product for decades. They increase nicotine levels in their product and add more and more chemicals each year in order to "enhance customer satisfaction." They also employ what is arguably the most effective group of political lobbyists on the planet, hence to spectacular LACK of regulation on an industry that kills 1200 Americans daily. 4.) And of course, there's the smoker who knows that tobacco is killing them but continues smoking. BUT... Once again, I question the value of blaming the smoker - Isn't it rather like shooting the hostage? Regardless of how they became "trapped," the only beneficial goal is to help them become free! I'm NOT saying that the smoker isn't responsible. I'm saying that shaming and blaming them will NOT bring a positive outcome. An overwhelming majority of smokers I know are already beating themselves up about smoking. Your eye rolling, judgmental, scolding comments could in fact be what convinces them that they're hopeless. And you know what? When a person believes that they're hopeless, they are. If you can't say anything encouraging, please shut up. So let's stop the SHAME and the BLAME, and focus on the object of the GAME- Getting help for smokers who are ready to try to quit. As your state and federal legislators are contemplating higher taxes on tobacco products be sure to call them and demand that more of the tobacco taxes go toward tobacco prevention and cessation services. Don't let them snow you with "offsetting tobacco related health costs." That isn't helping reduce the number of smokers. That's just paying for the health care costs that will continue to rise UNTIL WE REDUCE THE SMOKING RATE by providing high quality programs to help smokers who are ready to quit.
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On September 11, 2001 my friend Janice hugged her brother good-bye and sent him off to Logan airport where he had a seat on Flight 11 to LAX. He would return to Los Angeles after a 2 week visit with Janice and her son Jason. Janice had been smoke free for 2 months (she declared her independence on Independence Day – the fourth of July!)  Imagine her horror as she watched, like we all did that day, the video tape of flight 11 flying into the World Trade Center… She would see that image repeated dozens of times that day and that image was more horrific for her than it was for most of us. Of course at a time of intense grief like that, we are all tempted to return to a familiar “friend” – cigarettes. Janice heard the “little voice in her head” assuring her that a cigarette would help her feel better, that she could have just one…. She asked herself honestly, “would a cigarette make me feel better?” As she thought about that question, the little voice tempted her again, as if to seize her at a weak moment. Shaken beyond my understanding this exemplary woman summoned the truth from deep down inside of her. “Sure!” she exclaimed aloud. “A cigarette might make me feel better – for a minute. But it won’t change anything! IT WON’T CHANGE ANYTHING!” she sobbed loudly.
Janice was absolutely right. No matter what the stressor is, no fight, fear, or frustration is going to get better because we choose to smoke. Smoking will never solve anything, never fix anything, never improve anything (except some tobacco company’s profits!) As she sobbed the truth that day, the lie fled. The truth within her (something she had come to believe from her Wednesday night Quit Smoking group) chased the lie away! The day had sufficient tragedy without Janice relapsing into her tobacco dependence. The loss of her brother and the loss of her freedom would have made the day doubly dreadful. Mid-afternoon that day the phone rang. Janice figured that the FAA had released the official passenger list and that Janice’s Mom had received a call confirming their loss. Janice was shocked to hear her brother’s voice. He explained that when he arrived at Logan and complained about having to wait so long for his flight, a helpful ticket agent had transferred his seat to an earlier flight. His flight was in the air over Chicago when the fated planes were hijacked. He was grounded in Chicago and waited for hours to get inside the terminal and use the payphones to call his family. Consider Janice’s temptation. Consider her choices. Janice is one of the truly heroic and wise people I have had the privilege of meeting and knowing through my work. She knew the truth and it set her free. The truth is that no cigarette ever makes anything better. The day will live forever as a tragedy, but because Janice clung to the truth that day her family will have two reasons to be grateful. @besochemps is on Twitter! |
About Besochemps
It has been my privilege to usher thousands of folks through the process of quitting tobacco. You can find me on Twitter too! Archives
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