Over there, its almost seen as odd not to smoke.
Now, to be clear, Im not advocating for a cultural reversal in America.
I have asthma, and if everyone started smoking cigarettes 24/7, Id probably be in serious trouble.
Oh, its just a crackhead, you think as you keep moving.
But see someone casually smoking a cigarette?
Your brain automatically jumps to thoughts like, Wow, what a gross, self-destructive loser.
Its wild to consider how the narrative around cigarettes shifted so drastically in such a short span of time.
Im not denying that cigarettes are gross or harmful.
The science is clear, and the health risks are undeniable.
But the way America collectively decided to demonize cigarettes above all other substances is still astonishing.
The anti-tobacco campaigns of the late 20th and early 21st centuries werent just effective; they were relentless.
I grew up watching commercials on Nickelodeon featuring kids refusing cigarettes and ominous statistics about tobacco deaths.
By the time I was 10, I was fully convinced Id never touch a cigarette in my life.
We managed to reframe cigarettes as the ultimate taboo, yet vaping and other addictive behaviors continue to thrive.
