Community Chat

[ahoymate]

Why do people do a lot of things? Life is stressful. To fit in. Lazy habits. Nicotine is very addictive. That's how the tobacco companies get young people hooked......

The list of reasons is numerous.

[JJsMom]

It is more socially acceptable in certain areas. I live in an area with a higher than average smoking rate. It's not as taboo to do it here.

As much as some resisted smoking bans and higher taxes on cigarettes, they do appear to be working to reduce the rake of smoking. These laws have made it more uncool to smoke.

[NoelSeven]

On 1/13/2014 beammeupscottie said:

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.

I smoked as a teenager for the usual reasons. Literally, pretty much everyone I knew in HS at the time smoked... and both my parents smoked, although both quit later.

Also, the information on why not to was more scarce and it was being challenged at the time. You did the right thing.

[Luv2Decorate]

On 1/13/2014 ~foundinlv~ said:

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

Taxes.

[VanSleepy]

Because they are addicted...it's relaxing...it's enjoyable...they want to stay thin...they think they can quit before any harm is done...

[QueenDanceALot]

On 1/13/2014 NoelSeven said:

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.

The few young people I know who smoke do have parents who smoke.

[NoelSeven]

On 1/13/2014 ~foundinlv~ said:

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

They sure covered up their findings for years. They knew how bad it was, including their additives.

[Cranberries]

Peer pressure, stress, denial, they don't care about themselves. I'm glad they don't allow smoking in public establishments/buildings anymore.

[NoelSeven]

On 1/13/2014 Love Roses said:

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.

I also remember it was said that smoking kept someone's weight down. I knew girls who started smoking for that reason.

[rarejan]

People smoke for many reasons. I smoked because I enjoyed it. That's hard for a non-smoker to understand, but then there are a lot of things people do that I don't understand and just leave it be. So I can only speak for myself. Was I in denial? Of course not. I was well aware of the health risks and knew several in my circle who were having problems related to smoking. Did I think it was cool? Again of course not. I wasn't trying to be cool. I enjoyed the act of smoking, taking that break, talking to fellow smokers whose life styles were similar to my own, making friends and forming bonds. There's a bond among smokers unlike others. And of course there's the addiction. But I certainly was well aware of what that meant and what it was doing to me. It was my choice.

Having said all that, I am smoke-free now for a few months shy of two years. It took me a while to make the decision and find a solution to my addiction. Those who thought badgering me or bullying me into not smoking made absolutely no dent in my resolve to do what I wanted. That sort of thing just does not work. The reasons people quit are as unique as each of us. I can share with a smoker what I used to finally quit, but it's an individual journey.