Tobacco Free Matters

Tobacco used to be sold in the pharmacy in the old days. Smoking cigars or cigarettes was socially appropriate and considered a way to reduce stress and anxiety.

In 1900, cigarette consumption was approximately 54 per capita annually. That number increased exponentially and peaked at 4,345 in 1963, almost equivalent to 12 cigarettes per day.

In 1930, the death rate of lung cancer was 4.9 per 100,000; in 1990, the rate increased to 75.6 per 100,000. Medical studies also found a direct link between tobacco consumption with other diseases and conditions such as heart disease, atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease, laryngeal cancer, oral cancer, or decreased pulmonary function.

During the later part of the 20th century, the health burden from exposure to environmental tobacco smoke was also documented. With the increased health adversity from smoking tobacco, the World Health Organization (WHO) established the Tobacco-free Initiative. This WHO effort to promote global cooperation on aspects of tobacco control reminded us of a WELL feature.

“In order to prevent intrusion of cigarette smoke from the outdoors, projects must also take steps to ensure that smoking is not allowed in the vicinity of building entrance, operable windows and building air intake.” — WELL A02, Smoke Free Environment

Today, we place this card by the door, hoping to amuse those nearby smokers, so they do not need to smoke to reduce their anxiety.
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By the way, if you are interested in this topic, consider checking out “Tobacco Use: United States, 1900–1999” at NIH’s National Library of Medicine.