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By Kehinde Aderemi
A recent encounter with a 30-year-old smoker has revealed the struggles of many young smokers in the Nigerian society.
The man narrated his experience as a smoker to the reporter somewhere in Ikeja area of Lagos.
“I am a product of a broken home and I have been smoking for the past 15 years since my secondary school days,” he began. “I started gradually because as a teenager, I was trying to fit in with the crowd. I left home after my secondary school and I have been on the street since then.
“I am 30-years-old. But I can’t imagine living a day without cigarettes or marijuana. It’s like a part of me is missing when I don’t smoke.
“I always begin my day with cigarettes or marijuana, depending on my mood. It is my morning ritual and I smoke anywhere and at anytime. Smoking has affected my social life, too. I avoid going out with non-smokers because I don’t want to feel like I am guilty. And when I am surrounded by friends who smoke, we always end up having a smoke together.
“There was a time I had a cough that wouldn’t go away, and I thought it was the end, but it turned out to be just bronchitis. Sometimes, I feel ashamed of myself. I know I am a smart person but I can’t seem to overcome this one habit. I know I need to quit, but it has been very difficult for me and I hope maybe, someday, I will find the courage to stop it,” the young smoker, who craved not to be mentioned, confessed.
Despite repeated warnings and advertorial messages that ‘smokers are liable to die young’, increasing numbers of smokers has continued to raise issues about the possible effects, health challenges, the myth as well as the reality of smoking on smokers and other members of the society.
Smoking is an old habit that has spread across all sections of the society. But like an old habit that dies hard, findings revealed that it has refused to die in every society.
Smokers have various reasons for smoking. But there are health concerns that make smoking such a risky adventure.
According to the Medical Director of Flouride Hospital, Ikorodu, Lagos, Dr Doyin Adekoye, smoking has far-reaching consequences on the health of the smokers.
Dr Adejoye explained that smoking affects practically the entrie system of human beings, ranging from the central nervous system, respiratory system, cardiovascular system, and even the gastrointestinal system.
He identified addiction as a primary problem for smokers, even as he insisted that many of the smokers don’t really know the long term implications of smoking.
“Smokers believe that the warning that ‘smokers are liable to die young,’ is just a medical warning, just like every other warning issued by the medical authorities through the government. Many of them don’t really know the long term implication of smoking.The health implications of smoking are numerous.
“For instance, let me begin from the central nervous system. One of the consequences is actually the addiction. People get so addicted to smoking and it affects their memory and at the end of the day, they are going to have memory loss because their memory capability deteriorates over time.
“The ability to recall past events and all that will disappear in the long run. So, that is part of the central nervous system effects of smoking.
“Another possible effect and health implication of smoking is insomnia. Some of them may not be able to sleep. Insomnia may also lead to cardiovascular problem. The body pressure will begin to rise. It can even lead to rising BP, that is hypertension, and also lead to heart failure. Then, if you go to the respiratory system, it can actually lead to cancer of the lungs.
“Smoking can cause all manners of cough. At the end of the day, some of them will be coughing out blood. By the time you check, they have already had lung cancer. That is another problem.
“Even in the gastrointestinal system too, some of them may have oesophagus cancer, cancer of the oesophagus. These are deadly diseases that are actually associated with long-term smoking. I think our people should be conscious. The fact is that these health issues may not be immediate. However, smokers are always vulnerable. That is why they must adhere to the warnings,” he stated.
Adekoye also said that despite the fact that the Federal Government cannot ban smoking outright, it is understandable that government is trying to de-market smoking by making it less appealing to people.
“Government is very conscious of the economic implication of such a decision. So, government is trying to balance their thoughts in such a way that justifies the warning that ‘we have told you smoking is a dangerous killer.’
“Even the companies that produce cigarettes and other narcotic substances write it boldly on their product that this thing can actually kill you. So, it is now up to you to choose whether to continue or not. So, I think that the government has been considerate enough to caution smokers from refraining from smoking.
A medical practitioner, Dr Olaoluwa Jegede, described smoking as any substance that is inhaled and exhaled out. Jegede also mentioned various categories of substances being inhaled by smokers.
He said most of the substances are abused because majority of those that take them are ignorant of the negative health effects on their body.
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“Smoking can lead to substance abuse generally, and when we are talking about substance abuse, it involves a lot of things that people abuse. When we are talking about drugs, smoking is part of drug abuse. When we are talking about substance abuse, it has to do with any drug taken without doctor’s prescription.
“Smoking largely depends on what a smoker smokes. We have various categories of substances like cigarette, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and “Colos” (short for Colorado). These are substances. Though they are distinct drugs with different, dangerous methods of consumption, the effect of all these categories of smoking on our health is very bad.
“And smokers themselves know that once they take any of these substances, they become less productive to the society. They are always vulnerable when they become addicted and most of the times, they are also unconscious for a very long period of time. Smokers can be described as walking ghosts when they take substances that are injurious to their health.
“We see cases of smokers being unconscious on the streets. Too much of smoking can damage the liver and other important organs of the body system like the lungs. It can lead to lung cancer which can also lead to death,” he stated.
Jegede also highlighted the roles of government in making laws that would criminalise smoking, even as he urged parents to continually advise their children and wards.
“Schools should continue the advocacy against smoking and religious organisations should step up their game by preaching against smoking”, he said.
Pastor Ubani Godspower of the Watchman Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement, Lagos, in his submission, spoke on the religious perspectives to smoking. According to the cleric, there is no portion of the bible that spoke about smoking.
“Rather, the Bible says ‘our bodies are the temple of God, therefore we will not allow anything that would grief the spirit of God in us,” he said.
He cited 1st Corinthian 6 verses 19 – 20, even as he urged believers to stay away from any act that can lead to sins. “Apart from smoking, a believer should not do anything that will move away the Holy Spirit in him or her,” he said.
Pastor Paul Adebayo from Ketu, Lagos, also corroborated the cleric’s views. He expressed concern that the numbers of smokers are growing in the society, even as he described the human body as the temple of God.
Adebayo stated further that though smoking is not explicitly slated in the Bible, he added that the Holy Bible explained that wisdom is profitable to direct in Book of Ecclesiastes 10:10.
According to him, wisdom is to be valued to guide human actions and decisions, because it produces clear understanding of the choices.
“Smoking might not be explicitly mentioned in the Bible, but in order of obedience to the law of the kingdom of God which was established and written in Bible “1st Corinthians 10:31”.
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
“This is a command of God, not a suggestion. Smoking is not to the glory of the Lord, and is therefore, a sin. A transgression of God’s law that ‘whatever we do, do all to the glory of God. There are Bible verses that identified our body as the temple of God. These include 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 that says, ‘know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defiles the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.’
“From the above Bible verses, we can see that our body is the temple of God which we need to guide jealously .As Christians, anybody that smokes commits a sin by dishonouring his or her body, which according to the Bible is the temple of God,” he stated.
Also speaking, Deputy Imam, Adamo Central Mosque, Adamo Ikorodu, Khalifa AbdulGaniy Ibrahim said based on the Holy Qur’an, Sunnah, and confirmed medical evidence, smoking is considered haram in Islam due to its clear harm to individuals and the society.
Khalifa Ibrahim maintained also that Islam places great emphasis on the protection of human life, health, intellect, and wealth.
According to him, preserving health is a responsibility and an act of worship. “Smoking causes harm to the smoker and to others through passive smoking, which clearly falls under this prohibition. It is also a waste of wealth and resources,” he noted.
He pointed out that any practice that clearly harms these essentials is prohibited in Islamic law.
He also highlighted general Islamic principles, quoting the Holy Quran verses 2:195 and verses 4:29. “And do not throw yourselves into destruction with your own hands .And do not kill yourselves. Surely Allah is Most Merciful to you.”
The Quran verses, he said, established a fundamental rule that Muslims must avoid actions that lead to harm or self-destruction.
“Majority of contemporary Islamic scholars consider smoking to be haram (forbidden). This ruling is based on well-established medical evidence that smoking causes serious diseases such as cancer, heart disease and lung problems.
“Evidence from the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad said: “There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm.”
Ibrahim also described smoking as act of wastefulness. He cited Qur’an 17:27, which says: ‘Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devil.’
“Spending money on cigarettes, which bring harm and no benefit, is considered as waste (israf) in Islam. Cigarettes, marijuana or any other addictive substances bring bad odour and public harm. The prophet – (peace be upon him) said: Whoever eats garlic or onion should not come near our mosque.”
Khalifa Ibrahim stated further that various references from the holy Quran indicate that smoking produces an even stronger and more harmful odour, disturbing others, especially in mosques and other gatherings.
