Anyone with an ounce of common sense knows how significant the difference is between the type of smoking that the average cigarette smoker does compared with pipe or cigar smoking.
No one should argue with the above. Just as no one, with the proverbial lick of common sense, should minimize that taking carcinogens into the body is bad and replacing oxygen with nicotine in the blood is also bad. Addressing degrees of risk is good. The argument is/should be about how one's individual genetic makeup handles the carcinogens, nicotine, etc. Each smoker or "wannabe" should weigh the risk carefully before deciding the possible reward out weighs the risk.
I would defy
anyone to demonstrate that there is anything efficacious for one's health to be achieved by putting match to tobacco and then taking the smoke into the body. (Citations would be appreciated should one attempt such.) Smoking is a purely unsupportable from a health standpoint, and a purely selfish decision. I made it, don't regret it but, I really want people to understand the risks. Remember Rodu was only cited in a faintly, very faintly, generalized, positive manner.
Just weigh the pluses (there are none, other than, "I enjoy it.") and the negatives, then make a decision. Oh, weigh the financial costs and accept the idea that you are seen as a social pariah by many of your fellow citizens. All of that simply comes with the territory and, had you done any research, you would know that and accept such quietly with dignity. Many tend to run in circles, peeing themselves and screaming incoherently as they share their surprise at the rising costs of blends and pipes. Then there is the righteous indignation when they discover smoking, in many parts of the world, is frowned upon by society in general.
