There has been mass advancement in tobacco prevention amongst teens, from government programs and grants, social media pages, to creatively manufactured media campaigns buuuuuut…the Internet hasn’t played a huge role in tobacco prevention until the early 2000’s. A recent study showed that though tobacco content only makes up less than 1% of social media content, half of that content was PRO-tobacco. Do the math; this means in that in the cyberwar for tobacco longevity, we’re neck and neck.

Teens who smoke are over 30% more likely to become regular smokers. The exposure of pro-tobacco content can be detrimental to the mass progress made in the past 2 decades. Think about it! We are always on the net, surfing Facebook, Twitter and even that ghost town we call Myspace. Pro-tobacco messages are underhanded no matter where they are, cyberspace included. We need to start seeing mass net campaign targeting these online parasites. Tobacco is dying and will hang on to anything and everything for sustenance. This is cyberspace war!

Tobacco can sometimes be a paradox; for many it brings death, for some it is life. Take Richmond, VA for example. Altria is the #1 maker of cigarettes in the US, and is one of the largest employers in Virginia. According to a Tobacco Facts article, ” about 5,700 people work in Altria factories, offices and laboratories in the Richmond area. The company ranked seventh among private-sector employers in the region.” With the current economy not looking to bounce back with an increase in jobs, companies like Altria remain a constant source of stability.

Altria also makes large donations to the schools in the area; providing new computers, tutoring struggling students, and putting in countless volunteer hours. Much of the legislation that we are fighting for would slowly deplete companies like Altria, creating job loss. What is the answer when this happens? What are people’s options? Tobacco companies think that their existence is inevitable, we need to make them re-think this illusion.

The people of Richmond have come to depend on companies like Altria, with dollars being thrown around in a climate where everyone is looking to save. This creates the idea that Tobacco ain’t that bad. Money will always talk, but so does death. New industry is needed in the area, clean industry. Think about it.

Smoking is kind of a funny thing in that everyone has heard and fully understands the risks associated with smoking but people choose to do it anyway. The general theory on why people keep smoking (other than becoming addicted) is denial. If you can convince yourself that the hazards are old news and it “couldn’t happen to you” then maybe you can justify it.

Now let’s take a look at something that isn’t old news. According to a brand new study that took place in Israel, people who smoke have lower IQ’s than those who don’t. Researchers studied 20,000 young adults and stumbled upon a revealing conclusion. 18- to 21-year-olds who do not smoke have an average IQ of 101. The typical smoker’s IQ, however, was found to average only 94.

To make matters even worse, researchers found that IQ decreases when smoking increases. While typical smokers have an IQ averaged at 94, people who smoke more than a pack a day had IQ’s around 90. Just for the record, a normal IQ range is 84 to 116. So, those heavier smokers are literally just a few points away from having a below average IQ.

Although still too premature to draw a scientific conclusion, many scientist believe that smoking puts the brain oxidative stress, which in turn damages DNA and lowers your IQ.