Over the years the mainstream media has over flooded Society with statistics about cigarettes. Informing us of their poisonous nature. With the newly found knowledge and understanding we have regarding cigarettes in 2016 I am in utter disbelief with how many people still choose to begin the Habit that kills; Smoking. It is my belief that unless there were some fireproof ways to completely purify and eliminate cigarettes of toxins they should not be sold so frequently and purchased with such ease.

Through my years of experience in retail with all of the Corporations I have worked for, I've always been the type of employee that goes out of my way; above and beyond for the satisfaction of my customers. Ensuring after their encounter with me, that they are more than pleased. When you love and care for people as a whole the best part of customer service is usually the customers, which brings me to my next point.

I find it a personal challenge to sell cigarettes to someone who clearly does not need any. (Not that anyone needs cigarettes.) I remember years ago I had one customer specifically who was on the verge of coughing up a lung. But he just couldn't resist the urge to have a drag. As a humanitarian my stomach turned, but as an employee I did what I had to do. That was just one time of many. I also had a customer who was clearly pregnant and just had to have a box. I was absolutely speechless...I mean it, speechless. I can't lie though, I have had a few customers who I have done my best to dissuade using every method in the book, ultimately buckling under the pressures of satisfying the customer in front of me, which is what retail employees are paid to do.

When I was in elementary school (decades ago) there was a program named D.A.R.E. Their slogans were "Dare To Be Drug Free", and "Just Say No." The whole program lasted about a week long. They gave out T-shirts and all sorts of paraphernalia, recovering addicts would come to the school and share their breathtaking stories that were nothing short of inspirational. Leaving every vessel in the room completely mesmerized. Encouraging us to make the right decision and learn from their mistakes. They pulled out every car they helderly to ensure the students were drug free. Of course the drugs they were addicted to work commonly much stronger and likely to be illegal in the United States. What cigarettes are considered a gateway drug. One puff can begin and lifelong struggle with drugs. I'm not 100% sure if D.A.R.E. is introduced to students in the south but if not it should definitely be implemented. When done right the whole program is very moving and can save a life.

It does a appear though that steps have been taken to to slowly but surely decrease the number of smokers. For example the vapend and Electronic Cigarettes. Although I have been told that those have some significant health concerns also. One being that their sole purpose is to "replace" cigarettes...sounds simple enough right??...the issue is that does not rid anot individual of an addiction. it simply transfers the addiction of one thing to the addiction of another. This generation truly does have the power to nip it in the bud, so let's get to it.