Final answer:
Smoking leads to addiction and a multitude of health issues, including but not limited to lung cancer. The consequences of smoking extend to various bodily systems, causing widespread damage and disease. Due to the severity of these consequences, the statement is considered true.
Step-by-step explanation:
The information provided and extensive research evidence make it clear that smoking can have severe consequences on one's health. If your friends encourage you to smoke and you start smoking, there are numerous potential consequences. One of the most serious outcomes could be developing an addiction to nicotine, which is indeed more addictive than heroin according to studies. Furthermore, smoking can lead to a wide array of health issues, including lung cancer, which is highlighted as one of the main adverse effects caused by smoking. The correlation between smoking, lung cancer, and various other diseases has been established through decades of research and carries the consensus of the medical community.
Although it might seem that smoking primarily affects the respiratory system, it, in fact, compromises many other systems in the body as well. Smoking damages the cardiovascular system, leading to increased risks of high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes. It can also cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), reduce fertility, and slow down wound healing, among other health issues. The consequence of taking up smoking can be a plethora of health problems that develop over time, which are not limited to the respiratory system but can affect the entire body.