SMOKE WITHOUT BORDERS

An International Journey of Volunteers to New Habits

by Yelyzaveta Marchenko

Cigarette Labyrinth: The Smoke That Clouds Our Future

Imagine a maze where finding the exit seems impossible. Every turn brings another danger, every step leads into the unknown. Such a maze is created by tobacco, which claims more than 8 million lives globally each year. Cigarette smoke knows no borders; it envelops our lives, obscuring the true consequences of this addiction.

To find a way out, we must focus on the most vulnerable young people, who have not yet fully succumbed to the smoke and still have the chance to choose a healthier future.

Іnvisible Enemy: Why Cigarettes Kill More Than War

Tobacco smoking has remained one of the biggest public health challenges worldwide for decades. It causes one in every eight cancer cases and is responsible for one in every five deaths among cancer patients. Throughout the 20th century, this habit claimed the lives of approximately 100 million people, the majority of whom lived in today’s developed countries.

Tobacco smoke contains over 7,000 chemical compounds, at least 250 of which are toxic, and 69 are known to cause cancer.

But the most alarming fact is that tobacco kills not only those who smoke. Secondhand smoke is deadly for those around them. Every year, approximately 1.2 million people, including children, lose their lives due to the harmful effects of secondhand tobacco smoke.

Smoking on Autopilot: When Life Turns to Ash

Nicotine addiction among children and adolescents is reaching alarming levels, and this age group is particularly vulnerable to the influence of tobacco products. One key factor is that children and teens are in a critical period of personal development, where the influence of social media, advertising, and peer pressure is especially strong. Advertising campaigns that directly or indirectly target youth, along with the portrayal of smoking as “cool” on social networks, create an environment where tobacco use becomes “normalized,” making it difficult to resist.

Smoking is most prevalent among teenagers aged 16-18. Studies from various countries show that secondhand smoke at home and in public places significantly increases the likelihood that young people will start smoking. In Ukraine, one in eight teenagers (12.1%) started smoking at the age of 14. If healthy habits are not cultivated in children, the number of smokers will rise, and tobacco-related mortality will only increase.

Smoking and You: “48 Hours Without Smoke: Volunteers Breaking the Chains of Nicotine”

Participants were invited to take part in a survey that included a 48-hour no-smoking challenge. During this time, they were asked to record their emotions, triggers, and replace their smoking habit with healthy activities. The goal was to demonstrate the impact of short-term nicotine withdrawal and help them assess their own habits.

The results showed that most participants reduced the number of cigarettes smoked and noticed improvements in their well-being. The main challenges were physical cravings and stress, but support from friends, physical exercise, and healthy eating helped overcome these difficulties. 60% of participants expressed willingness to continue such practices.

The primary reasons for smoking were social pressure (34.4%) and stress (18.8%). Meanwhile, 46.9% were willing to quit smoking in the future with family support (37.5%) and information on health risks (31.3%).

Additionally, 53.1% of participants felt responsible for secondhand smoke affecting those around them, indicating some awareness of its harm. Participants also suggested that anti-tobacco campaigns focus on real motivations, healthy alternatives, and raising the prices of tobacco products.

Education — The Cornerstone of a Smoke-Free Nation — How Learning Shapes Healthier Generations

Education is a powerful tool in the fight against smoking, especially among young people. It is during school years, when children and teenagers spend most of their time in an educational environment, that their conscious attitudes toward health are formed. Research shows that smoking rates are lowest among individuals with higher education. This further emphasizes the crucial role that knowledge and learning play in changing behavioral habits.

Nicotine addiction is a challenge not just for the individual but for society as a whole. Each of us can become an agent of change, starting with our own decision to quit smoking and supporting our loved ones in their attempts to break this harmful habit. Schools, universities, and other educational institutions should become active platforms for combating addictions among youth—places where conscious citizens are nurtured, who avoid dangerous habits.

Don’t wait until a harmful habit turns your life or the life of your loved ones to ashes. Take the first step toward health today! Quitting smoking is not just a chance for a longer and better life but also an opportunity to set an example for others. Join the fight against tobacco: support those who are trying to quit, spread awareness about the dangers of smoking, and together we can change the future.

Don’t wait until a harmful habit turns your life or the life of your loved ones to ashes. Take the first step toward health today! Quitting smoking is not just a chance for a longer and better life but also an opportunity to set an example for others. Join the fight against tobacco: support those who are trying to quit, spread awareness about the dangers of smoking, and together we can change the future.