THE TOBACCO WAR WAGES ON

"The Black community has an estimated 15 million smokers and another five to seven million Black children who have been injured by second hand smoke."1

Tobacco firms also make huge political contributions to Black politicians and steer megabucks in ad money to many Black newspapers. Tobacco industry ads account for 60 percent of ad space for most Black newspapers.

Here are some changes your body goes through when you stop smoking:

Within 20min. of your last cigarette:
-Blood pressure drops to normal
-Pulse rate drops to normal
-Body temp. of hands and feet increase to normal

Within 8hrs:
-Carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal

Within 24hrs:
-Chance of heart attack decreases

Within 72hrs:
-Bronchial tubes relax making breathing much easier
-Lung capacity for breathing is much easier

2weeks-3months:
-Circulation improves
-Walking becomes easier
-Lung function increases 30%

1-9 months
-Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, shortness of breath, decrease
-Lung cells regrow increase ability to pass mucous, clear the lungs, and reduce infection
-Body's overall energy improves dramatically

5years
-Lung cancer death rate of avg. smoker ( 1pk per day) decreases from 137 deaths to 72 deaths per 100,000 people

10years
-Rate drops to 10-12 deaths per 100,000 or at the rate of a nonsmoker
-Precancerous cells are replaced and other cancers:
Mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, pancreas all decrease

-30 chemicals in tobacco smoke that cause cancer

All benefits are lost if you smoke 1 cigarette per day.

Years ago there was a sister wanting advice on how to stop smoking. She wrote to the Honorable Elijah Muhammad asking him, "How can I stop smoking?" His simple reply was, "Dear Sister, If you desire to stop smoking, stop. Best wishes for your continued success." 2

Needless to say, she was displeased with such a brief solution, but he was telling her to use the power and the will Allah (God) gave her- to say be and it is.



1 James Hill, president of Injured United Black Smokers of America
2 Torchlight for America, Farrakhan, p.143

Please contact me with questions or to share information:    int_maine@yahoo.com