As someone who started smoking in the fourth grade (don't ask) and quit in the sixth grade, I am hesitant to judge those who remain locked in the self-destructive habit. I'm fortunate I stopped before I became seriously addicted.
Still, I can't help noticing a curious behavior on the part of those who smoke while driving. They inevitably leave the window open a crack so their secondhand smoke can vent to the outdoors. They do this even if they are driving alone.
Even smokers don't like secondhand smoke.
It makes me think back to how widespread smoking was when I first moved to Anchorage in 1980. I was appalled to see people smoking in the grocery store, letting their ashes drop as they looked over the fruits and vegetables.
In Anchorage, we've come a long way from those days. As a society, we've learned that secondhand smoke isn't just an innocent annoyance; it's a killer.
Research has confirmed that when a community puts tough limits on indoor smoking, the rate of heart attacks drops. The smoke puts extra strain on people with weak hearts.
But there are still many places in Alaska that allow indoor smoking around others who are entitled to breathe uncontaminated air.
These days, some of the heaviest smokers are people trying to overcome alcoholism. When they quit drinking, their addictive compulsions lead them to substitute nicotine for alcohol. And in the short run, it makes sense. They're trading a behavior that is ruining their lives right now for one whose deadly consequences are far off in the future.
Obviously, it's better to quit both, but it's easier said than done.
The Great American Smokeout is coming up Nov. 19. It's a nationwide campaign to encourage people to try quitting and give them the support they need to follow through.
The road to a tobacco-free life is hard -- most smokers say they want to quit. But on Nov. 19, those still in tobacco's grip can start their journey with a single step.
-- Matt Zencey
Matt Zencey