So... why start smoking?

[Jams]

Now this one I'm tempted.
IT IS a fucking addiction, and point of fact the chemical part takes quite a bit longer than a week to shift, I've been living with a smoker most of my life, I've seen what this shit does to people, granted hard drugs are more blatant in their addictive qualities but I've yet to see a morphine addict crumple a cast iron cooking pot because their slipper came off.

http://www.quitsmoking.uk.com/understanding-nicotine-addiction/benefits-timeline.aspx

Three, four days at most after your last ciggie there is no nicotine in your system - ergo no physical addiction. Habitual addiction can last fo decades.

On your second point, how many morphine addicts have you seen go through withdrawl? Nicotine withdrawl can lead to mood swings and definately a shorter temper - I've never experienced mophine withdrawl but I did experience heroin withdrawl and the physical withdrawl didn't last much longer than when I quit cigarettes but the disparity in the severity of symptoms could not be more painfully (i do mean painfully) obvious - I spent two days vomiting dry unable to eat or sleep pretty much every part of my body was in pain or cramping compare that to being snarky for a couple of days.

 

[iamthe1]

True Fact: Smoking cigarettes will make your penis bigger.

That is just... so... wrong.

That's what I tell the kids that I hand out cigarettes to. In my camel costume and leather jacket.

I like you.

Shut up, baby, I know it!

*lights cigar*

 

[Calatar]

For some reason, some smokers think that because reasons to stop smoking were in a PSA, they're automatically invalid. They've got little hints of anecdotal evidence to imply how non-dangerous smoking is (X person smoked and lived a long time), as though that's any real indication of risk factors.

There's a tendency of people to defend any behavior they're involved in, regardless of rationale. Clearly smoking is one of these. In this thread we see people denying the addictive qualities of tobacco, despite irrefutable scientific evidence to the contrary.

Another common flimsy rationale: Man, EVERYTHING causes cancer, should I avoid doing everything that has a risk factor? (Answer, you should logically avoid things with an absurdly high risk factor and little benefit)

This is a vast exaggeration. We commonly see sensationalist articles based on single papers stating something to the effect of "X linked to a mild increase in cancers." These get turned into "X CAUSES CANCER" headlines by non science-savvy journalists. This is vastly different than the vast quantities of epidemiological studies regarding links between smoking and health problems. Equating the two is invalid.

Smoking is a bigger cause of death than car accidents, HIV, murders, (other) drug abuse, suicides, and drinking-related deaths combined. It is completely, unfuckingdeniably, a high-risk activity. 20% of all deaths in the US are from smoking-related health problems.

[HEADING=1]20% of all deaths in the US are smoking-related.[/HEADING]

For every 10 smokers who die from smoking, there is a non-smoker who dies from their smoke.

On average, smokers live 14 YEARS less than non-smokers. If we make some basic assumptions about when people start smoking (around 20 we'll say) and average live expectancy (78), we find that people who smoke reduce the duration of their remaining life by 14/58, or ~30%. That's right, the average starting smoker loses about a third of their time spent alive.

Yes, life is a risk. But smoking is a HUGE risk. In every possible way.

Source

 

[The Gnome King]

Honestly? I don't smoke anymore; haven't for... many years. But I smoked from about ages 14-22. (I'm 32 now, so it's been a good decade since I've been a smoker.)

I started by stealing my mom's cigarettes; I didn't get sick the first time I smoked - I enjoyed it. I was smoking over stress due to a girl; the kind of stress only a 14 year old boy can work up over a girl, I suppose.

I continued to smoke because it was enjoyable and relaxing - the same reason many people smoke, I assume. I enjoyed the various tastes from cigarettes ranging from regular Camel wides to clove to menthol... I'm kind of a sensation junkie so it just worked for me.

I stopped smoking because I could tell it was having an adverse effect on my breathing; I'm also an athlete and when it started to harm my athletic performance I knew I had a problem.

To this day I wish somebody would invent a cigarette that allowed all the positive effects (relaxation; something to do with my hands and mouth...) and none of the negative.

 

[snave]

In the construction and labouring industry, it is not customary to give non-smokers a break time outside of a brief recess and lunch. The work is hard, and the breaks are pretty much a necessity. Sometimes this also extends to the mining industry. It is the simple reason all people I know in manual labour positions who picked it up picked it up.

Yes, I asked the same question as the thread opener at one point. This was the most consistent answer I received.

 

[Infernostrider]

really? nobody ever told you about peer pressure? not just in regards to smoking, wanting to "belong" will make people of ANY age do the most ridiculous shit imagineable

 

[dan-bri]

The only reason I would start smoking properly (I.E. not just having the occasional cigarette) would be whilst I'm catering music festivals on 16 hour a day shifts. Any one who smokes seems to get a more breaks to go smoke, seems lie I need to smoke to get my damn breaks

 

[The Gnome King]

You don't know ANYTHING about addiction or withdrawl if you think smoking is addictive to the same degree.

I have to call a bit of BS on this. As somebody who is (currently, and long term) an Oxycodone user, and who has used a *lot* of recreational drugs in the past... cigarettes *are* psychologically and physically addictive. As much as morphine, to some people.

In fact, some people can use morphine long-term and NOT get addicted. I'm one of the few people I know who has both studied psychopharmacology in detail and been addicted to quite a few drugs; not to mention the friends that I have seen live (and in a few cases, die) from drug addiction.

Cigarettes are one of the most addictive drug-ingestion forms I know of. I haven't smoked for over a decade and I get cravings for cigarettes moreso than I do cocaine or methamphetamine; both drugs which I also have a long history with - and haven't touched for over a decade.

Nicotine addiction is real and it can cause aggressive behavior in people; same as addiction to quite a few drugs. I won't even bother leaving links to studies on this; you can google them yourself.

Not hating on cigarette smokers - just, know your facts. Telling people that cigarettes aren't physically addictive just isn't true. It may be true for *your* unique biochemistry but everyone has a different reaction to drugs.

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

So... I understand why people continue to smoke once they have started. Granted, my understanding is only theoretical since I have never personally touched a cigarette, but I understand the basic mechanics of chemical addiction.

A quick point to raise with you here, and I'm not getting all aggressive here, but saying all smokers are addicted is like saying all people who drink are alcoholics. Now, yes, a large number of smokers are addicted because smoking is far more addictive than (to use my previous example) drink, but please don't tar (pun kinda intented) us all with the same brush.

I smoke, and have done for sixteen years, but I'm not a chain-smoking 40 a day smoker who chokes down filthy cancer sticks whilst hating themselves for being unclean. I smoke less than ten a day, sometimes less than five a day. I never smoke before I finish work, so my first cig of the day is usually around 6-7PM. And I light up because I enjoy the flavour of a cigarette. I can (and have) gone for days and days (once just over a week! Go me!) without touching cigs, simply because I didn't feel like one. It is possible for people to enjoy smoking, you know.

As for why I started? In all honesty I grew up in a very anti-smoking household, and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Smoking was demonised so much by my parents I wanted to try it. Cigarettes became (metaphorically) a big red button that my family had written 'Do Not Press!' over, and what always happens to big red buttons with 'Do Not Press!' written above them? They get pressed.

EDIT -

Spoiler: Added for humour

[http://verydemotivational.memebase.com/2010/03/15/demotivational-posters-smoking/?utm_source=embed&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=sharewidget]

 

[Aetera]

When I turned 18, I bought a pack just because I could. I tried one, since it seemed like a waste to just throw them out without even trying one, I enjoyed it, so I kept doing it. I didn't feel sick the first time I smoked a cigarette. I had a nice, pleasant feeling from it. I think that the fact that I'd smoked... other things before helped with the "not hacking my brains out." I didn't so much as cough. It was an enjoyable experience, and still is.

 

[DigitalAtlas]

SNIP

Thank God. I wouldn't want to live to be so old that I can't live without a hospital bed and tubes coming out of me.

 

[mrpanic241]

Hello everyone, long time lurker first time poster

It just so happens that I am currently trying to quit smoking. I have been extremley agitated and stressed out. I even bit my controller earlier out of frustration and I never nerd rage(not mentioning mile high club).

But back on topic

I started smoking due to friends always going out to have a cig and me being left alone, I just got fed up with it. Since then it has been a fantastic way to relieve stress and calm down. I was well aware of all ill effects it might have on me and probably would, but I enjoy it.

 

[Wutaiflea]

Usually, people dislike my answers to this question, but this was my genuine experience.

I started smoking when I was 17 (legal in this country at the time) during a very self-destructive phase in my life. I was on my own when I had my first cigarette, and I enjoyed it- I didn't have a coughing fit, or feel sick, or any of the other negatives people often bring up.

I was the only one of my friends that smoked, and I was under more peer pressure to quit than for anything else. I carried on smoking because I enjoyed it. I was fully aware of the risk to my health.

I specifically enjoyed the flavour of Malboro cigarettes, and refused to smoke cheap ones. I also liked the opportunity to "go out for a fag" and get a little peace and quiet. It was almost ritualised.

I felt absolutely no sense of addiction to cigarettes. I had one when I felt like it, rarely smoking more than 5 a day. After a couple of years, I gave up, because I couldn't be bothered with the expense.

Because of these experiences, I find it really hard to relate to what most people say about starting smoking. I did it, and yet everyone else's version seems completely alien.

 

[moretimethansense]

I'm not, and that's fair enough, if you like it fine, but for the love of god don't try to claim it's not addictive or that it somehow has benefits that it doesn't.

Clears my sinuses better than Tabasco sauce.

I somehow find that hard to believe as second hand smoke makes mine far worse, but seeing as I don't personally smoke, and haven't read anything explicitly shooting down what you've said I'll give you the benefit of the doubt here.
It still doesn't lower anxiety though.

Now this one I'm tempted.
IT IS a fucking addiction, and point of fact the chemical part takes quite a bit longer than a week to shift, I've been living with a smoker most of my life, I've seen what this shit does to people, granted hard drugs are more blatant in their addictive qualities but I've yet to see a morphine addict crumple a cast iron cooking pot because their slipper came off.

http://www.quitsmoking.uk.com/understanding-nicotine-addiction/benefits-timeline.aspx

Three, four days at most after your last ciggie there is no nicotine in your system - ergo no physical addiction. Habitual addiction can last fo decades.

On your second point, how many morphine addicts have you seen go through withdrawl? Nicotine withdrawl can lead to mood swings and definately a shorter temper - I've never experienced mophine withdrawl but I did experience heroin withdrawl and the physical withdrawl didn't last much longer than when I quit cigarettes but the disparity in the severity of symptoms could not be more painfully (i do mean painfully) obvious - I spent two days vomiting dry unable to eat or sleep pretty much every part of my body was in pain or cramping compare that to being snarky for a couple of days.

Erm, correwcty me if I'm wrong but isn't withdrawel what yoiu go through when you don't have anything in your system?
Cause I'm pretty sure that withdrawel comes from your body craving something it doesn't have.

Also, SNARKY?!
My mother nearly killed me with a cast iron saucepan, it missed my head by about half a foot!
And I was ten at the time!
And before you ask, no I wasn't acting up, I was going in to the kitchen to see what the shouting was about.
Frankly I'd much rather be around a heroin addict that was trying to quit than a smoker, it may be worse to be one but at least you can fucking tell that it's affecting you.

 

[The Gnome King]

Ugh... after seeing all the misinformation in this thread I just thought I'd throw up a link anyway:

http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2007/05/dayintech_0516

And keep in mind *everyone* has different effects from drugs. Alcohol causes delirium tremens in people more reliably than almost any other drug save the benzodiapines when they try to quit; opiates have actually a relatively mild withdrawal (including heroin compared to, say, a longterm Xanax user who is almost certain to have physical problems when they quit) - I've worked with quite a few people in a medical setting and I can say that while nicotine won't cause DTs it *will* cause longterm physical withdrawal symptoms.

People do drugs for all sorts of reasons and people's bodies are all different - bottom line, know that when YOU do a drug you might have all sorts of different effects from it than your cousin, your friend, or people on this forum. Including nicotine.

 

[Jonabob87]

I quite enjoy cigarellos, I started smoking them just out of curiosity at the pub. I don't do it very often though, every few months I'll buy a 5 pack and stretch them out over a few weeks.

I don't get why people smoke cigarettes though, those things taste literally awful.

 

[DigitalAtlas]

I'm not, and that's fair enough, if you like it fine, but for the love of god don't try to claim it's not addictive or that it somehow has benefits that it doesn't.

Clears my sinuses better than Tabasco sauce.

I somehow find that hard to believe as second hand smoke makes mine far worse, but seeing as I don't personally smoke, and haven't read anything explicitly shooting down what you've said I'll give you the benefit of the doubt here.
It still doesn't lower anxiety though.

I can't say it lowers my anxiety, but for that brief moment my stress just floats away with the smoke I blow out, afterwards I can just carry on easier. It's one of those things that depends on the person, I assume.

Still, I do have to appreciate it due to the fact it has given me initiative to find calming and surreal places just to smoke with my best friend. I've been to the top of the tallest building in our town to watch a sunset over a river, by a bridge where no cars passed on a clear night to the point the water reflected the sky perfectly, and a place of pure nature where man had not disturbed. All this to have a smoke. Pretty awesome to me.

Plus, it can get me out of any awkward moment to say 'well, I have to go take a smoke now.'

 

[moretimethansense]

For some reason, some smokers think that because reasons to stop smoking were in a PSA, they're automatically invalid. They've got little hints of anecdotal evidence to imply how non-dangerous smoking is (X person smoked and lived a long time), as though that's any real indication of risk factors.

There's a tendency of people to defend any behavior they're involved in, regardless of rationale. Clearly smoking is one of these. In this thread we see people denying the addictive qualities of tobacco, despite irrefutable scientific evidence to the contrary.

Another common flimsy rationale: Man, EVERYTHING causes cancer, should I avoid doing everything that has a risk factor? (Answer, you should logically avoid things with an absurdly high risk factor and little benefit)

This is a vast exaggeration. We commonly see sensationalist articles based on single papers stating something to the effect of "X linked to a mild increase in cancers." These get turned into "X CAUSES CANCER" headlines by non science-savvy journalists. This is vastly different than the vast quantities of epidemiological studies regarding links between smoking and health problems. Equating the two is invalid.

Smoking is a bigger cause of death than car accidents, HIV, murders, (other) drug abuse, suicides, and drinking-related deaths combined. It is completely, unfuckingdeniably, a high-risk activity. 20% of all deaths in the US are from smoking-related health problems.

[HEADING=1]20% of all deaths in the US are smoking-related.[/HEADING]

For every 10 smokers who die from smoking, there is a non-smoker who dies from their smoke.

On average, smokers live 14 YEARS less than non-smokers. If we make some basic assumptions about when people start smoking (around 20 we'll say) and average live expectancy (78), we find that people who smoke reduce the duration of their remaining life by 14/58, or ~30%. That's right, the average starting smoker loses about a third of their time spent alive.

Yes, life is a risk. But smoking is a HUGE risk. In every possible way.

Source

While I agree with most of that, the 20% can't be right can it?
I'd have though that heart disease would be about that much, and I was pretty sure that less people smoke nowadays than they used to, what year is your source from?

I mean I suppose it's possible that the percentage is that high, but if true that suprises me.

 

[moretimethansense]

I can't say it lowers my anxiety, but for that brief moment my stress just floats away with the smoke I blow out, afterwards I can just carry on easier. It's one of those things that depends on the person, I assume.

Still, I do have to appreciate it due to the fact it has given me initiative to find calming and surreal places just to smoke with my best friend. I've been to the top of the tallest building in our town to watch a sunset over a river, by a bridge where no cars passed on a clear night to the point the water reflected the sky perfectly, and a place of pure nature where man had not disturbed. All this to have a smoke. Pretty awesome to me.

Plus, it can get me out of any awkward moment to say 'well, I have to go take a smoke now.'

I have to ask though:
Exactly how much of that stess is caused by the nicotine cravings?
I'd be willing to believe that nicotine may slightly relax someone, but 9/10 people that claim it gets rid of their stress simply wouldn't be so stressed if not for their body telling them to smoke.

Also, what's wrong with going to those places just to chat?
Or even just to watch the scenery?
Why does it have to be smoking that leads you there?
Hell you could take up a hobby an do the same thing, it'd probably cost you less too.

Were I not an agorophobe that's the kind of thing I'd do anyway, I enjoy just sitting somewhere pretty and talking, or even just watching the scenery.
Then again I am a bit of a ponce.