Cut off "free" health care for smokers. If you're going to engage in a habit that will kill you and those around you, don't expect the rest of us to foot the bill.

In Vancouver they have a safe injection site for an illegal substance.
In Prince George we have a needle exchange for an illegal substance.
We could make tobacco illegal and then the government would be more inclined to support cessation strategies.
Tobacco will never be illegal anyway, the government makes too much money form taxes, after all over 65% of the price of a pack is some form of tax.
So in the end the government really does not want people to stop.

exactly Too much money is made on taxes which among other things go towards healthcare ect. The government has been trying for years to do away wih drugs with limited success. They would do no better with tobacco

The most effective deterrent is to jack up the price. Most of the people I know that quit (including meself) did so because it was just becoming too expensive of a habit.

Find something else to stick in your mouth.

:-)

I guess by the 'tax money towards healthcare' logic, we would need to assume that there's more money to be made in the taxes than it costs the tax base in healthcare. Does anyone know if that's the case?

Imagine a world where smoking became illegal! Not only would we be living amongst a bunch of crabby cold turkeys, but can anyone imagine the underground and black market trade of one of the world's most addictive drugs that would shortly follow?

Posted by: zoopdingle on November 6 2008 6:58 AM
Cut off "free" health care for smokers. If you're going to engage in a habit that will kill you and those around you, don't expect the rest of us to foot the bill.
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You drive a car Zoop? Your also cutoff free healthcare.
What other proven activities that can damage your health or possibly kill you do you do on this planet Zoop???

Posted by: thereasonableman on November 6 2008 10:07 AM
The most effective deterrent is to jack up the price. Most of the people I know that quit (including meself) did so because it was just becoming too expensive of a habit.

Find something else to stick in your mouth.
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I quit because I was tired of feeling sick.
The price was only a pissoff to me.

Quote:

Posted by: zoopdingle on November 6 2008 6:58 AM
Cut off "free" health care for smokers. If you're going to engage in a habit that will kill you and those around you, don't expect the rest of us to foot the bill.
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You drive a car Zoop? Your also cutoff free healthcare.
What other proven activities that can damage your health or possibly kill you do you do on this planet Zoop???

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You're being ridiculous. I don't believe I'll be getting lung cancer by driving my car around. Nor will I be giving you lung cancer by driving my car around.

I think there should be some consequence for those that smoke that is above the high price. They get to put a cancer stick in their mouth and enjoy their fix then expect to be taken care of when the inevitable happens. Not to mention the consequences that come to those around them. It sickens me to see parents taking their small children outside to stand in a smoke cloud so they can smoke. It is a disgusting habit and I say tax the hell out of them and find some other consequence until it isn't a problem anymore.

Funny thing, I smoke yet I am in far better shape than a majority of north americans that do not smoke.
I do not have a persistent cough, I do not break out in a sweat just walking up a flight of stairs.
I do want to quit my 30 year habit, but I fear that the cancer will present once I do quit.

If the government and health agencies really wanted people to quit, the solution is simple and easy.

1. make cessation aids readily available at no cost or at least covered by the extended health. I see no way that this would be abused as the methadone is abused by heroin addicts trying to get over a rough patch. If a smoker accesses this resource, then he/she really wants to quit.

2. Take cigarettes off the market. It is a stupid idea for governments at all levels creating impediments to smoking and still allow it for sale due to the cash cow from taxes. You cannot have it both ways, either smoking is bad and should be completed prohibited, or it is worth having available on the market. Which is it?

"You're being ridiculous. I don't believe I'll be getting lung cancer by driving my car around. Nor will I be giving you lung cancer by driving my car around."
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Is that a fact?
I assume you have scientific proof exhaust emmissions do not cause cancer?

Does it matter what the cause of the illness or the death is?

No it doesn't.

The possible end result to smoking OR driving can be the same...illness or death.

People die everyday due to the automobile.

Do you fly Zoop? You run the risk of getting severely injured in a crash. Then us taxpayers would have to pay for your healthcare.

If you forget to de-ice your driveway and you fall and break your leg does that mean we won't have to pay for your healthcare?

I could go on and on with all kinds of examples. But then I suppose I would be really ridiculous huh?

In the end we are all just worm food.
No one is immortal.
It is a matter of quality of life.

After a few years of watching this forum, I am finally inspired to participate. I have just recently quit that dreadful dirty habit, so I come to you as a know it all!
Loki, I like what you say. Would someone consider that caring for a smoker is actually less expensive than caring for a non-smoker? Smokers die way sooner!
You folks who were pure enough (for whatever reason) to not ever smoke, will never understand the grip that smokes have on your physical and psychological body.
To you Lynn, be careful what you say cause one day you may have to walk a mile in my moccassins.
It is a huge challenge to quit, so if there are folks out there trying to quit, help them, don't discourage them. Remember bitching at them won't help. Quitting comes from the inside. And in closing, Way to go Loki!

After a few years of watching this forum, I am finally inspired to participate. I have just recently quit that dreadful dirty habit, so I come to you as a know it all!
Loki, I like what you say. Would someone consider that caring for a smoker is actually less expensive than caring for a non-smoker? Smokers die way sooner!
You folks who were pure enough (for whatever reason) to not ever smoke, will never understand the grip that smokes have on your physical and psychological body.
To you Lynn, be careful what you say cause one day you may have to walk a mile in my moccassins.
It is a huge challenge to quit, so if there are folks out there trying to quit, help them, don't discourage them. Remember bitching at them won't help. Quitting comes from the inside. And in closing, Way to go Loki!

After a few years of watching this forum, I am finally inspired to participate. I have just recently quit that dreadful dirty habit, so I come to you as a know it all!
Loki, I like what you say. Would someone consider that caring for a smoker is actually less expensive than caring for a non-smoker? Smokers die way sooner!
You folks who were pure enough (for whatever reason) to not ever smoke, will never understand the grip that smokes have on your physical and psychological body.
To you Lynn, be careful what you say cause one day you may have to walk a mile in my moccassins.
It is a huge challenge to quit, so if there are folks out there trying to quit, help them, don't discourage them. Remember bitching at them won't help. Quitting comes from the inside. And in closing, Way to go Loki!