Health/1

Name of Article: Depression, Cigarettes and Negative Ions

Area of Impact: Health

Ethical Issue Involved: smokers are generally more prone towards depression than non smokers. How can employers combat this and help employees be as productive as they can be? The ethical issue in this article is that employers are trying to help the employees by instructing/informing them the facts about depression and how smoking may be a vital cause.

Problem that this issue presents to Society: The problem that this issue presents to society is shown through studies that regular smokers have lower monoamine oxidase A and B activity. These enzymes serve many functions in the body, one being the regulation of moods. Depression has been shown to increase when dependant smokers quit using nicotine. The ups and downs of nicotine cravings further contribute to productivity loss. When a smoker tries and fails to quit, depression increases.