What a well written article! I believe cigarette smoking is not what it used to be. When the Native Americans adopted the habit, they smoked pure tobacco. It is questionable how this affected their health. Now, jump to today, and we know all the chemicals that are added to cigarettes (you mentioned them above). Honestly, tobacco seems to be the least of the worries. It is a shame how big tobacco has been allowed to "suck" people in. They will go over to poor countries and stand outside of schools passing their cigarettes out like candy. They know about its addictive nature and how if they get you once, they will keep getting you to come back for more.

Several months ago, I was with my dad while he was receiving chemo. Across from him was a gentleman who was battling his second round of lung cancer that was caused by smoking. He said, if he had to do it all over again, he would still smoke. That really shocked me. Knowing what all he had to go through because of it, he would still do it. It is amazing the hold cigarettes have on people. I hope in the future they go extinct.