We often hear and read about how many people are affected by the dangers of tobacco and secondhand smoke. People acquire unnecessary diseases, die prematurely, and have a less than desired quality of life. More people acquire heart and lung diseases and cancer from their tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure than those that don’t use tobacco or are exposed to secondhand smoke. Overall death is about three times higher than those who never use tobacco or are exposed to secondhand smoke. The quality of life is also affected from tobacco use and secondhand smoke. Not everyone dies.
We are talking about people. Our moms and dads, brothers and sisters, friends, and neighbors. We are talking about people that live in Wabash. Faces that have a life worth living. We are not talking about numbers and statistics. Lives that matter, young and old, are affected by exposer to tobacco use and secondhand smoke.
People that choose to use tobacco for themselves is their personal choice and will have to deal with the consequences of that choice. This is not what this letter is about.
Those that choose to not smoke but are exposed to secondhand smoke, become victims of another’s choice to smoke. Does that seem right? Yes, non-smokers can remove themselves from a smoking environment but why should that person have to accommodate the one smoking because of the personal choice made to smoke. It seems “more right” that those that smoke can smoke in places where others will not be affected. We all deserve to breathe air that is not poisoned by the 7,000 chemicals and nicotine that is in a cigarette.
It is time we protect our children in our city parks. It is time that ALL people, adults and children, are protected from secondhand smoke at all public buildings and gatherings. It is time that Wabash finishes what our state couldn’t do by adopting a comprehensive smoke free air law to protect every human being in Wabash.
Putting faces on the over 400,000 people that die from tobacco related diseases and secondhand smoke confirms to us how important it is for us to act now. Let’s make sure your face does not show up on one of those numbers.
Call to action: Contact our city legislators and mayor to let them know of the urgent need to take action by adopting a Wabash smoke-free clean air ordinance.
Dan Gray
260-274-2920
41 W. Canal Street
Wabash, IN 46992