• Question: if people choose to smoke should they have private health care to help them stop ?

    Asked by emmaandizzy to Gioia, Iain, Jo, Leo, Mariam on 18 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Iain Moal

      Iain Moal answered on 15 Jun 2010:

      People don’t stop smoking unless they choose to stop smoking. It can be tough. I know, as I used to smoke. When they are ready to stop, I think that there should be support there for free and for anyone who wants it.

      Some people think that smokers should pay for their own support, but I don’t think so. When someone gets cancer because of smoking, or for any reason for that matter, it isn’t just that person who is the victim, but also that persons children, parents, family, friends, employer. It costs a lot of money to look after someone with cancer, and it costs a lot of money to get someone to adulthood. For them to die or be incapable of working is an enormous cost financially, so its cheaper in the long run to give people all the support they need whenever they want to quit.

    • Photo: Leo Garcia

      Leo Garcia answered on 15 Jun 2010:

      That’s a really interesting question! It has always seemed odd to me that the government permits the sale of cigarettes, but simultaneously spends people’s tax money on advertising and schemes to ensure that they give up once they’ve started!

      If people want to spend money on PRIVATE health care to stop smoking then that’s their business. And, so long as the government continues to sell cigarettes, it should also provide advice and help for people who want to stop.

    • Photo: Joanna Watson

      Joanna Watson answered on 15 Jun 2010:

      No, I think that anyone that wants to stop smoking should get help from their normal doctor and the NHS. There are some really great NHS services out there to help people quit.

    • Photo: Mariam Orme

      Mariam Orme answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      That’s a difficult question, but a very good one. I assume you’re getting at the fact that smokers cost the NHS a lot of money because of the high risks of cancer and heart disease. I agree that it’s not fair for the NHS to have to spend so much because people do something that’s so bad for them. The trouble is, if you say that about smokers, where does it stop? Fat people are also at high risk of developing heart disease and cancer, so should they have to get private health care to help them eat less and exercise more? And what about people who enjoy doing dangerous sports and then have to get broken bones etc treated on the NHS? So I’m afraid there’s no easy solution.

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