Cannot Smoke Under Bankruptcy?

A Houston newspaper reported today that a bankruptcy judge has denied a couple's request to allow $170.00 a month for cigarette purchases. The couple maintains that smoking cessation programs cost much more than that, and that the stress of bankruptcy would likely cause them to fail to quit. The judge did not buy their argument and denied the budget item. Way to go judge!!

Smoking Prevalence Rates

Webmd recently reported that smoking prevalence rates for young adults aged 18 - 35 range from a high of 31% in Kentucky and about 8% in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Wonder what it is about the environment of the islands that make for such a low rate? Perhaps we could import some of whatever it is!

The CDC states that people who quit before age 35 "have a life expectancy similar to that of those who never smoked".

I would think that perhaps young people, young teens in particular, would become somewhat cynical about smoking cessation when the government has subsidized tobacco farmers for so long while at the same time the Centers for Disease Control advocate not smoking.