Charles Harrington

Published: January 14, 2010

A recent news item out of Damascus, Syria, noted a banning of public smoking, which now prohibits smoking in all restaurants, cafes and schools. Violators are subject to a $45 fine.
America would do well to follow suit.

Any person who has ever been to the many Lake Placid clubs will attest to the fact that second-hand smoke is pernicious, making a no-smoking section of any club, just won't cut it. At times, it is so bad that the smoke pervades to my underwear.

All of us have seen friends and relatives whose lives have ended too soon because of smoking.

I would have loved to meet my sisters-in-law, Pauline and Fredine, who died before I had the opportunity, due to the adverse effects of smoking.

Some smokers believe smoking calms their nerves, the fact is smoking releases epinephrine, a hormone which creates physiological stress to the smoker.

I find it amazing, that our government, after doing research, which we all paid for, have ascertained that smoking is dangerous to our health, so much so, it states on the package: "It has been determined that smoking is hazardous to your health." Do we need a stronger message than that?

We all can help by urging any smoker to get help and quit, and do it now.

Charles Harrington
Lake Placid

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