No Smoking Day: Why Smoking Is Difficult To Quit – Commercial Sex Workers
Rotimi Famakin
As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to celebrate 2024 no smoking day, some commercial sex workers in Ibadan who consumed tobacco product said quitting the habit would be difficult for them in view of the relief and comfort derived in tobacco products.
Speaking in an interview with Radio Nigeria some of the sex workers who linked their habit to socio economic fraustration, faulty background and peer influence said smoking relieve them of stress and restore happiness in them.
Expressing the rationale behind his smoking habit, a Micra driver who do not want his name mentioned said he resorted to smoking due to setback suffered in the course of his driving career.
A clinical psychologist and a lecturer at Ladoke Akintola university of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, Dr Olufisayo Adebimpe said peer influence and erroneous belief that smoking reduces stress were some of the causes of smoking.
Dr Adebimpe who said smoking only creat momentary releif explained that the nicotine released into smokers brain affect the brain causing poor occupational performance as it weakens smokers
Speaking on the dangers associated with smoking, an Ibadan based medical practitioner, Dr Jibolu Oke explained that smoking not only cause damage to the human teeth but also influence cancer, heart disease, diabetes and infections,
The medical practitioner who said smoking also increases the risk of tuberculosis, eye disease, reduces immunity and hearing loses stressed the need for smokers to seek medical intervention saying damage caused by smoking are sometimes unknown to smokers in the early stage.
The theme for this year’s international no smoking day is: “Protecting children from tobacco industry interference”
