Figures demonstrate that females in today’s society are well on course to long-term illness via a smoky avenue, the Irish Examiner says, noting that smoking is damaging the lives of young Irish women.

The broadsheet newspaper learns that the incidence of smoking-related diseases, especially lung cancer, is higher than ever in females, accounting for more lives than breast cancer. Referring to data from the National Cancer Registry, the newspaper says lung cancer is set to become a female-prevalent disease by 2025.

The Irish Cancer Society launched a smoking cessation awareness campaign directed chiefly at youngsters, the source informs, adding that the quit smoking drive is part of the on-going smoking initiatives to educate people about the harmful consequences of nicotine addiction.

For many Irish women, smoking conjures up a Parisian charm, the Examiner observes, partly blaming the tobacco industry for bringing cigarettes back in fashion.

"Superslim cigarettes have been the key design innovation of the last five years, with particular appeal to the female smoker," the source quotes head of communications at the Irish Cancer Society Kathleen O'Meara as saying.

According to the Irish Cancer Society, the most alarming aspect of the emerging trend is that young women from impoverished parts of the country are falling prey to tobacco addiction. This validates the need for intensifying quit smoking campaigns amongst the uneducated and the poor, one might say.