topic Re: Why Do People Smoke Anyway? in Community Chat

Why Do People Smoke Anyway?

NoelSeven — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 20:18:52 GMT

I just read an interesting article as reported by CNN. Here's the opening comment:

"Smoking can kill you. We've known that for at least 50 years -- and yet millions still smoke, and thousands more pick up the habit every year."

The awful truth in stats:

"Smoking is still the No. 1 cause of preventable death in the United States, and has been for decades. It kills more people than obesity, substance abuse, infectious disease, firearms, and traffic accidents, according to the CDC. Some 443,000 Americans die from smoking-related illnesses every year, according to the U.S. Department of Health."

Why are people still smoking? Reportedly, it's defiance and addiction.

The good news and the bad news are the stats: "In 1965, 42% of the population smoked. Today, 19% of Americans do, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That number sounds comparatively small, but that's an estimated 43.8 million Americans -- and the decline in smoking has plateaued, experts say."

Any thoughts on why people you may know still smoke? It's very rare around here and there are a lot of restrictions on where people can smoke. None of our friends smoke, but we do have a neighbor who struggles with quitting.

Here's the article for those interested:

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/11/health/still-smoking/

Re: Why Do People Smoke Anyway?

Yuban3 — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 20:20:00 GMT

Simple. Nicotine is addictive.

Re: Why Do People Smoke Anyway?

ennui1 — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 20:22:35 GMT

Some people enjoy smoking.

People who smoke have more breaks at work, which is beneficial. If you hang outside with the smokers, you learn a lot of office gossip.

I remember reading an article that said women smoke because it makes them feel stronger. The psychology of "woman holding fire."

Re: Why Do People Smoke Anyway?

focksie — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 20:22:52 GMT

It's both physically and psychologically addictive. Drinking can be an addiction. Overeating can be an addiction.

Why do people start in the first place? Peer pressure, it looks cool, anxiety or stress.

Re: Why Do People Smoke Anyway?

scotttie — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 20:22:56 GMT

I am totally mystified. Besides the fact that everybody knows it can kill you (my nieces smoke after they watched my mother die a horrible cancer death from cigarettes);

it is also VERY expensive. I understand those who are already addicted and just cannot (or won't) quit but why do young people still take it up? It costs as much as a car payment!!

Re: Why Do People Smoke Anyway?

Yuban3 — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 20:24:22 GMT

On 1/13/2014 beammeupscottie said:
I am totally mystified. Besides the fact that everybody knows it can kill you (my nieces smoke after they watched my mother die a horrible cancer death from cigarettes); it is also VERY expensive. I understand those who are already addicted and just cannot (or won't) quit but why do young people still take it up? It costs as much as a car payment!!

Why do young people start? For the same reason they've always started. Too look "cool", to "fit in" with a certain crowd.

Re: Why Do People Smoke Anyway?

CardinalGirl — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 20:26:26 GMT

On 1/13/2014 Yuban3 said:
Simple. Nicotine is addictive.

You have to try it for it to be addictive. I don't understand why anyone would even try such a horribly stinky and nasty thing.

Re: Why Do People Smoke Anyway?

MomOf4 — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 20:26:48 GMT

Drinking can kill you too, yet more people drink to excess than smoke. Why isn't there ever a stronger effort to put a stop to that? I have never understood that.

Re: Why Do People Smoke Anyway?

NoelSeven — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 20:26:55 GMT

On 1/13/2014 Yuban3 said:
Simple. Nicotine is addictive.

Yes, it is, but that doesn't explain why thousands of new smokers start up every year in spite of knowing it will do them tremendous harm.

We're missing something here... as parents? I don't know, maybe most who start smoking have parents who smoke.

Re: Why Do People Smoke Anyway?

Topaz Gem — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 20:27:31 GMT

I think it starts out as a coolness factor when you're young, then when the smokers mature and realize that it will hurt their health, they find out that they're hooked.

I don't know how anyone can afford to smoke now with cigarettes taking a major chunk out of their budget. They've gotten so unbelievably expensive, yet people continue to buy them.

Re: Why Do People Smoke Anyway?

NoelSeven — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 20:29:19 GMT

On 1/13/2014 beammeupscottie said:
I am totally mystified. Besides the fact that everybody knows it can kill you (my nieces smoke after they watched my mother die a horrible cancer death from cigarettes);

it is also VERY expensive. I understand those who are already addicted and just cannot (or won't) quit but why do young people still take it up? It costs as much as a car payment!!

I'm so sorry to read about your mother, Scottie. I agree with you in wondering why young people start.

Re: Why Do People Smoke Anyway?

focksie — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 20:29:22 GMT

On 1/13/2014 MomOf4 said:
Drinking can kill you too, yet more people drink to excess than smoke. Why isn't there ever a stronger effort to put a stop to that? I have never understood that.

I think there's a bigger public outcry over smoking because it immediately and directly affects not only the smoker, but everyone around them in the immediate area. True that drinking can affect those around them, but it is assumed that drinkers won't get behind the wheel of a car every time they drink. ii

Re: Why Do People Smoke Anyway?

Clover29 — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 20:29:52 GMT

No one in my high school class smoked (1979). One started, briefly, and we all nagged her so much, plus she wanted to be an athlete so common sense won out in the end.

I left one job because smoking was allowed in the office and I can't breathe in that kind of atmosphere.

Nowadays, I almost never see anyone smoking. There is a "smoking shed" at work for pariahs, but it's hardly used.

I don't know why people smoke a second cigarette, when the first is usually just a cough-fest. I guess that's peer pressure, and my schoolmates were lucky that ours went the other way.

Re: Why Do People Smoke Anyway?

NoelSeven — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 20:31:44 GMT

On 1/13/2014 MomOf4 said:
Drinking can kill you too, yet more people drink to excess than smoke. Why isn't there ever a stronger effort to put a stop to that? I have never understood that.

Smoking is more of a direct cause of illness and death. A lot of people can drink socially without any ill effects. I suppose it could be said that it's not a one to one relationship.

Re: Why Do People Smoke Anyway?

scotttie — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 20:32:28 GMT

On 1/13/2014 NoelSeven said:
On 1/13/2014 beammeupscottie said:
I am totally mystified. Besides the fact that everybody knows it can kill you (my nieces smoke after they watched my mother die a horrible cancer death from cigarettes);

it is also VERY expensive. I understand those who are already addicted and just cannot (or won't) quit but why do young people still take it up? It costs as much as a car payment!!

I'm so sorry to read about your mother, Scottie. I agree with you in wondering why young people start.

Thanks Noel. Yes, she was one who was both physically and mentally addicted to it.

Interesting: my brother smoked for years and I NEVER did. Can't understand it.

Re: Why Do People Smoke Anyway?

foundinlv — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 20:33:17 GMT

The real question should be why is the tobacco industry not banned.

Re: Why Do People Smoke Anyway?

bikerbabe — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 20:33:47 GMT

I remember eons ago when I was in high school, half the kids who particiapted in the semester abroad/exchange program came back as smokers and the kids from Europe who came here were already smokers.

Re: Why Do People Smoke Anyway?

Marienkaefer2 — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 20:34:08 GMT

I think it's human nature to be in denial or think.it won't happen to you. Plus, as already posted, nicotine is addictive.

Re: Why Do People Smoke Anyway?

Puzzle Piece — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 20:35:18 GMT

I remember as a teen the gals I knew that smoked, did it because they were insecure and felt more sophisticated if they smoked. They believed that holding a cigarette in your hand was something to 'do with your hands' instead of just standing and not holding anything. If they couldn't smoke, they drank to hold a drink in their hand. They didn't realize the cigarette was very addictive and later that was the reason to smoke.

Re: Why Do People Smoke Anyway?

sidsmom — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 20:35:23 GMT

I see those eCigarettes being advertised on TV with some regularity. Will that make quitting easier? Do you think they will ever be sold in a public forum like QVC?