As House Bill 2 goes to the General Assembly for debate, I hope our representatives will consider the dangers secondhand smoke pose to the health of their constituents and the effect House Bill 2 has on youth.
House Bill 2 not only significantly reduces most people's exposure to secondhand smoke, but can also act as a preventive measure for adolescents.
According to a May 2008 issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, teens living in cities with restrictions on smoking in public places were 40 percent less likely to pick up the habit.
By preventing teenagers from beginning to smoke, we can also prevent them from obtaining life-threatening illnesses.
The Centers for Disease Control stated that if current smoking patterns persist, more than 5 million of today's teens will die prematurely because of smoking-related diseases.
As a senior in high school, I have seen the ramifications of tobacco use on my peers. I support House Bill 2 strongly because I don't want to continue watching my friends fall to this habit. I hope my senator will strive to protect them as well.
Colleen Daly, Asheville
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