We all know that smoking is bad for us, we’ve seen all the graphic images, we’ve heard it all before… but people keep smoking.  During the Olympics a new TV commercial is running in NSW, targeting hard-core smokers.  The ad uses the line, ‘Everybody knows’  (as in ‘yeah-yeah, we all know about this’) while showing really graphic images of the damage that smoking does.  Do these ads work?  If you’re a smoker, does it make you want to give up?  If you’re not a smoker, does it make you more determined not to take it up?  I’d particularly love to hear from you if you’ve given up smoking in the past.  How did you kick the habit?  Did these kinds of ads play any role in your decision?

80% of smokers take up smoking in their teenage years.  Did you smoke as a teenager?  Why is smoking so attractive to teenagers?  If you’re a teenager, is smoking still cool among your peers?

The dangers of smoking in pregnancy are well-known, but a new study has shown that smoking thoughout one pregnancy can have a follow-on effect on future babies - even if you give up smoking in the meantime.  How hard is it for pregnant women to give up smoking?  Have you had to give up smoking because of pregnancy?  Were you able to do it?