cigarettes

If you could un-invent something, what would it be?

Have you ever thought about what the world would be like if certain inventions had never existed? Some inventions make life easier, others add fun—but a handful might’ve done more harm than good. If I were granted the ability to pull something right out of reality, as though it had never existed, my choice is clear: cigarettes.

Yes, those tiny, rolled-up tobacco sticks are my personal pick for an unevent button. Let me tell you why.

The Smoking Epidemic: More Harm Than Good

Cigarettes have been around since the 19th century, marketed as glamorous and sophisticated. But let’s face it—they’ve left a trail of devastation in their wake. Over 8 million people die every year due to smoking, according to the World Health Organization. That’s not just a statistic—it’s families losing loved ones, parents leaving young children, and lives cut tragically short.

Here’s my take: what’s glamorous about that?

Photo by Ivan Samkov

Economic Gains vs. Health Costs

Some argue that cigarettes fuel economies through taxes and jobs. Sure, tobacco companies rake in billions, but the cost of smoking-related illnesses far outweighs those profits. Health systems around the globe spend hundreds of billions of dollars annually treating diseases linked to smoking—think lung cancer, heart conditions, and strokes.

It’s like a giant financial seesaw: whatever governments earn from cigarettes, they end up spending, and then some, trying to fix the damage.

The Addiction Factor: It’s Not Just About “Choice”

People often say, “If you don’t like it, don’t smoke.” But here’s the kicker—cigarettes are designed to hook you. Nicotine, the primary ingredient, is one of the most addictive substances out there. Once you start, quitting isn’t just a battle of willpower; it’s a fight against brain chemistry.

For me, uneventing cigarettes isn’t about curbing freedom—it’s about eliminating a product that manipulates people and traps them in harmful cycles. Smokers don’t just light up; they fight battles every single day.

Environmental Damage: A Hidden Villain

And let’s not forget what cigarettes do to the planet. Plastic-filled cigarette butts are the number one most-littered item globally. They pollute oceans, harm wildlife, and release toxic chemicals into the environment.

Imagine the irony—people smoking away their years while also polluting the planet for the generations to come. Uneventing cigarettes would be a two-for-one deal: saving lives and the earth.

What Would the World Look Like Without Cigarettes?

If cigarettes had never been invented, millions of lives would’ve been saved. Families would be whole. Health systems wouldn’t be weighed down. Imagine all the resources spent on tobacco being redirected to fight other global challenges—like hunger, clean energy, or better education.

But beyond the numbers, it’s about the intangible stuff: happier years with loved ones, healthier bodies, and cleaner air.

Conclusion: The Power to Unevent

If I could unevent cigarettes, I wouldn’t blink twice. Sure, some people may argue that smoking is a personal choice or that the economy will suffer, but in the big picture? The costs outweigh the small comforts it brings.

The world deserves better than an invention that benefits a few at the expense of so many. And hey, if we’re going to invent something, let’s make it something that brings joy, health, and progress—not a stick of slow destruction.