Deborah B.

Tulsa, OK

I’m 67 years old. I taught myself how to smoke when I was 15 to be cool. Both my parents smoked, so I had access to them. I now have macular degeneration as a result. I’m going blind. My lung capacity is reduced by 85%. I get out of breath very often, and I have to rest during any tasks I try to do. The tobacco industry told us that tobacco was not addictive and neither was nicotine! And they even testified before Congress that cigarettes and tobacco in any form didn’t cause cancer. Today, they are putting additives in their products to make them more addictive than ever. I’m trying to quit, and I can honestly say it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever tried to do. I take one step forward and three steps back. Kids, when you pick up ANY tobacco products, you are taking pieces of death from the Grim Reaper and destroying the wonderful body that God gave you. I wish to God that my parents would have punished me severely when they found out that I was smoking!!