Tobacco companies would like you to believe that smoking “light” cigarettes is safer than smoking regular cigarettes, but that is not true. Light cigarettes are not a safe alternative. In fact, there is no such thing as a safe cigarette.

The lower tar and nicotine numbers on light cigarette packs, may make smokers choose low-tar, mild, light or ultra-light cigarettes because they think these cigarettes will be less harmful to their health. The problem is that the amount of nicotine in a cigarette is measured by a machine that “smokes” cigarettes, and people do not smoke cigarettes the same way machines do. And no two people smoke the same way.

Studies have shown that when smokers use light brands they often change the way they smoke. They may take more puffs per cigarette, and hold their breath longer after they inhale. Some smokers even start smoking more cigarettes when they switch to a “light” brand. The end result is more tar and nicotine in the smokers body.

The New England Journal of Medicine studied the levels of a chemical (cotinine) produced in smokers’ blood after using nicotine. The Journal found that the levels were just as high in smokers who smoked light cigarettes as those who smoked regular cigarettes. The National Cancer Institute recently reported that “there is no conclusive evidence of reduced risk from “low-tar” cigarettes” and that “people who smoke low-tar cigarettes cannot expect to have fewer smoking-related health problems.”

Overall, there is no proof of reduced health risks from using light cigarettes. It’s important to remember that smoking low-yield cigarettes has the same risks as using any tobacco product. The truth is that light cigarettes do not reduce the health risks of smoking. The only way to reduce a smoker’s risk, and the risk to others is to stop smoking.