Smoking.

[Byzantine Prince]

If you haven't smoked you can't know how addictive it is. It's different for everyone, I've never felt addicted to it.

[Tachikaze]

I smoke on occasion. I find it attractive and cool.

People do ridiculous things in the name of being "cool". Since I'll bet few people can define what "cool" is, it looks very foolish indeed.

To me, being cool is a form of self-imposed peer pressure and fashion adherence. I decided a long time ago that I don't give a damn about being cool.*

I have also found that smoking accelerates the aging of the face. Women who are 30 years old look 40. I can't agree that that's more attractive.

* except, I have to admit, when I perform onstage.

[Tachikaze]

If you haven't smoked you can't know how addictive it is. It's different for everyone, I've never felt addicted to it.

You can if you've watched thousands of people desperately trying to quit for years until they die at 50. Profiteers makes millions selling products that promise to help people stop.

[Goalie]

Anybody who thinks smoking is cool must be retarded. How is something will most likely kill you and harm many others innocent people a year. 3,000 people in america die from lung cancer that is caused by second hand smoke. 400,000 smokers die in america a year. That is stupid. It costs over 100 billion dollars in health care. The only reason that smoking is still around is that tobacco companies pay a crap load in taxes. I say we keep jacking the taxes up untill there are no more smokers.

[Kanamori]

Controlling nicotine addiction is easy. If you know what it feels like, addiction in general, it's incredibly easy to avoid.

Oh wait, I'm someone who's never smoked and I'm going to lecture someone on what it feels like.

And there is such a thing as not smoking five packs of cigaretes, or any cigarettes at all, in a day. Although, on my list of biggest bodily harming drugs, it is right up there w/ alcohol and some of the dissociatives.

I say we crank gas prices, and let those of us who are physically fit to ride pedal bikes around.

[BHCWarman88]

400,000 people a year die from it,3,000 from lung cancer,as bett Said


and you Think Smoking is cool,Byzantine Prince??

[LeftEyeNine]

I know so many friends telling that "Oh well I seldom smoke..I can control it, give it up any moment".

Guess what, in the middle of a Baldur's Gate session, around 4 am, I am asked if there may be any open shop around..

You can't know about "addiction", that's why it is addiction.

[Kanamori]

I can feel it coming on, and I know that's when it's time to stop for a while. Addiction is only made a monster that people succomb to. It's totally avoidable and there are no chemicals in your head that make you search out your drug, and program the path to the smoke shop.

[Byzantine Prince]

Nobody is making people smoke a pack a day. Smoking too much is personal responsibility. Even if you are addicted you can control it and keep on a low of a cig a day (no real damage). If you abuse any substance you are screwed, this is not an exception.

[LeftEyeNine]

I can feel it coming on, and I know that's when it's time to stop for a while. Addiction is only made a monster that people succomb to. It's totally avoidable and there are no chemicals in your head that make you search out your drug, and program the path to the smoke shop.

I'd love to hear the same words next year, Kanamori. You have a promise

[Divinus Arma]

How should I reply? I rarely rarely rarely smoke: Cigarrettes if I am totally bombed and even then maybe only once a month max, Cigars if I am gambling that night, and a tobacco pipe on the occasional warm summer night.

But yet: I find addicted smoking to be repulsive and destructive.

[Justiciar]

I smoked around 40 cigarettes a day only a year ago, before that I just had the occasional one whenever my mates were feeling generous. Now I'll only buy a pack of 10 a week, if that. I tend not to smoke in public places anymore either. I just do it when I'm alone or need to calm down/concentrate. Substitute nipples and all that tosh. Still, it keeps me from biting my nails.. usually.

Could murder a pipe though. And a descent moustache for that matter. And a fez..

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

I find it disgusting, and it gets on clothes and everything. I find that too many smokers just can't seem to keep the smell out of their clothes and stuff, bringing it with them.

[Kanamori]

I'd love to hear the same words next year, Kanamori. You have a promise

You, my friend, have a deal.

[Ice]

I smoke the occasional cigar, but thats about it. I'm pretty picky about what I smoke though, can't be a cheap one.

[Kanamori]

I'll also post that getting the good effects from nicotine is a very fine line to walk. Once you start to feel them, it's time to slow down on the cigar a lot, or you will end up feeling very sick and the very nasty effects of nicotine.

[Reverend Joe]

I'll also post that getting the good effects from nicotine is a very fine line to walk. Once you start to feel them, it's time to slow down on the cigar a lot, or you will end up feeling very sick and the very nasty effects of nicotine.

Ooooooh yeah. I learned that the hard way very early on.

[Avicenna]

Once the nicotine gets into your system, you'll find it very difficult to resist having more, as drug addiction is not just a state of mind but also your body wanting more.

Nicotine gets your heart rate up, enhances adrenaline flow, increases blood pressure and reduces your appetite. You'll almost definitely get thinner, as you eat less and your body burns more energy. There are also the obvious downsides: Nicotine causes nausea and vomiting, and there are withdrawal symptoms within 24-48 hours after your last smoke, causing headaches, anxiety, irritablility and a strong desire to smoke more. Tar in a cigarette (something that's used to fill the ground) also clogs up your cilia, which leads to bronchitis, making it difficult to breathe. In addition, the alveoli lose surface area, which makes oxygen transfer difficult, when it's already difficult to breathe due to the excess mucus clogging up your throat. These are just a few symptoms, if you want more information on the symptoms caused or why it's so difficult to quit just look it up.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Unhealthy Effects
About 442,000 people in the United States die each year from illnesses caused by cigarette smoking. Smoking accounts for nearly 90 percent of lung cancer deaths. Additionally, smokers are at increased risk for cancer of the larynx, oral cavity, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas.

One-third of smoking-related deaths are caused by coronary heart disease or chronic airway obstruction. Smoking also increases the risk of stroke by 50 percent—40 percent among men and 60 percent among women. Other research has shown that mothers who smoke give birth more frequently to premature or underweight babies, probably because of a decrease in blood flow to the placenta. Babies born to mothers who smoke during pregnancy are also at increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome.

Cigar and pipe smoke contains the same toxic and carcinogenic compounds found in cigarette smoke. A report by the National Cancer Institute concluded that the mortality rates from cancer of the mouth, throat, larynx, pharynx, and esophagus are approximately equal in users of cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. Rates of coronary heart disease, lung cancer, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis are elevated for cigar and pipe smokers and are correlated to the amount of smoking and the degree of inhalation.

Studies have found that cigarettes are addictive because an unknown component of tobacco smoke appears to destroy an important brain enzyme known as monoamine oxidase B (MAO B). The enzyme is vital for breaking down excess amounts of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that triggers pleasure-seeking behavior. Smokers have decreased levels of MAO B and abnormally high levels of dopamine, which may encourage the smoker to seek the pleasure of more tobacco smoke.

Even nonsmokers are at risk from smoking. Recent research has focused on the effects of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS)—that is, the effect of tobacco smoke on nonsmokers who must share the same environment with a smoker. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that exposure to ETS, which contains all the toxic agents inhaled by a smoker, causes 3,000 lung cancer deaths and an estimated 35,000 deaths from heart disease per year among nonsmokers. Secondhand smoke can aggravate asthma, pneumonia, and bronchitis, and impair blood circulation.

The smoking habit and addiction to nicotine usually begin at an early age. In the United States, more than 90 percent of adults who smoke started by age 21, and nearly half of them were regular smokers by the age of 18. Despite increasing warnings about the health hazards of smoking and widespread bans on smoking in public places, smoking remains common among teenagers and young adults. In 2001 surveys of students in grades 9 through 12 found that more than 38 percent of male students and nearly 30 percent of female students smoke. Although black teenagers have the lowest smoking rates of any racial group, cigarette smoking among black teens increased 80 percent in the late 1990s. Advertisements aimed at a young audience are largely blamed for this new generation of smokers.

Quitting Smoking

Studies of former smokers show that their risk of dying from smoking-related disease decreases with each year of abstinence. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), smokers who quit smoking before the age of 50 reduce their risk of life-threatening disease by half after just one year, compared with those who continue smoking.

Other benefits of quitting smoking include more disposable income, admission to social activities and institutions that ban smoking, and often, lower health insurance premiums. Nonetheless, to quit smoking is difficult, most likely because smokers crave the effect of the nicotine in the smoke. The U.S. surgeon general declared nicotine an addictive drug comparable to other addictive substances, including cocaine, heroin, and alcohol, in its ability to induce dependence. Overall, tobacco smoking causes about 20 times the number of deaths in the United States than all other addictive drugs combined.

Smoking cessation methods are plentiful, and many books and products are available to help an individual stop smoking. Many smokers turn to group help because of the support and understanding provided by other former smokers or people trying to quit. Most successful group-help techniques involve a challenge and reward system that also bolsters the self-discipline of the former smoker.

A number of nicotine replacement products are available to help a person quit smoking. Nicotine patches are small, nicotine-containing adhesive disks that must be applied to the skin. The nicotine is slowly absorbed through the skin and enters the bloodstream. Over time, a smoker uses nicotine patches containing smaller and smaller doses of nicotine until eventually the craving for nicotine ends. Nicotine gum works in a similar manner, providing small doses of nicotine when chewed. A nicotine nasal spray is a physician-prescribed spray that relieves cravings for a cigarette by delivering nicotine to the nasal membranes. Also available by prescription, the nicotine inhaler looks like a cigarette; when puffed, the inhaler releases nicotine into the mouth.

An approach combining three different smoking cessation therapies has found remarkable success. This approach combines an antidepressant drug called bupropin, marketed under the brand name Zyban, with a nicotine replacement product and counseling. While less than 25 percent of smokers who use nicotine replacement products alone remain smoke-free for more than a year, 40 to 60 percent of smokers using this combination approach achieved this milestone.

Microsoft ® Encarta ® Reference Library 2005. © 1993-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

[KafirChobee]

First off, it is easier to give up heroin than nicotine - it is a fact, ask any former addict (that probably still smokes).

Nicotine, is an increadible substance - it is both a motivator for the brain (instisting it needs it) and an innovator for other stimulations of the body that tells them it's a needful thing (especially the lungs).

One hears people talk about dropping their cigarette habit in a heart-beat ...
well, sure ... but it hurt. An Uncle tossed his last pack out his car window on his way home from one of his bars (owned 3 - 2 in "old Shawnee Towne") when he found it hard to breath - was coughing to hard. He was 63 (had been smoking since he was 11), and lived 'til he was 92 (never did stop drinking, however) - he also began waliking about 5 miles a day. So, changing habits is Ok. But, he proves the point that fear can allow one to go cold turkey. The will power theorists ... believe me - it was fear that motivated them. And, in some cases the realization that it was better for their health - and that they wanted to see a grand-kid grow-up.

Me, I experimented when I was 14 ... but, sports was my bag ... so. So, I smoked - but, hid it from the coaches. But, we maybe talking five cigs a day. I didn't really smoke 'til the Army ... and even then it was moderate, until I found out how calming it could be. Let me tell you right now, aside from a mariquana roll - nothing is more stabilizing than a cigarette (not even a shot of tequilla).

As to outlawing tobacco? Well, it worked really goods doing it to booze in the 20's - and has worked just fabulously in our drug wars ... for the criminal elements. So, if the intent is to further crime in America - then by all means criminalize smoking ... of tobacco ... that is. [a pack costs $30 in prison today]

Over all, it is a bad thing. Only my eldest son smokes (of my off spring - must scare some of you to know my genes survive me), and I have attempted to persuade him from it. Of course what son listens to his father committing that same sin?

The arguement of cost - medical ... cost to society (only time one ever hears a GOP'er use the term cost to society is when it may cost one of their supporters money). 9 red states supply tobacco, that ain't going to change. And neither will the support of the GOP for them, they will of course use the proper verbage to appease their christianist masses (the 19% that respond to a key word ... abortion, anti-christian, illegal-migrants, gays (anything), or patriotism on their terms).

No one likes the smell of tobacco ... unless it is pipe tobacco - and no one does that any more (because the cigar industry convinced everyone it causes lip and tongue cancer .... same things cigar smoking cause + lung, but cigars stink and pipes smelled good). Logic is logic, by any other name - determined by the logistist of the logistical "thing' they desire to be scientific about.

It is, in all, a simple thing. If you hate smoking ... don't smoke, but, allow those that do (that are couteous) to do so (those that ain't .. shove the damn thing down their throat - allow them a choice though). But, deny a person one right - like where they can or if they can smoke; and the expansion of limiting the rights of all on other issues is opened and will be expanded to the max by those that would be king. It is the most basic political princliple (read "The Prince") - it is how dictatorships are both held, and created.

Create a divide, an issue for a slim majority to support the crown - and the Prince will turn them all to his ideas, to his purpose.

The founders of this nation would be appalled that smoking is an issue, or that science is being used to subvert freedom.

[Red Peasant]

But, deny a person one right - like where they can or if they can smoke; and the expansion of limiting the rights of all on other issues is opened and will be expanded to the max by those that would be king. It is the most basic political princliple (read "The Prince") - it is how dictatorships are both held, and created.

I'm sorry, but if I had to fight all of the discourteous smokers around then I'd be fighting all of the time. I don't mind people smoking, let 'em kill 'emselves, but they don't have the right to take me with them before my time and to make that time as uncomfortable as they can. I can't wait for the ban in restaurants, cafes, pubs, public transport, etc etc to come into effect here in England. It's the right thing, and nothing to do with an attack on 'human rights' or 'liberty', that kind of argument is a ludicrous perversion of an ideal.

[R'as al Ghul]

I smoke cigarettes and the occasional funny ones.

I don't smoke around children and while others are eating.
I can't stand others smoking while I eat and I hate it when people act as if their life depended on the next cigarette. Those that take every opportunity to smoke are clearly more sick (in mind and body) than I am. I'm able to not smoke for several hours, if f. e. the work requires it.
What gets on my nerves are the tobacco fascist that start to cough when I light up a cigarette near them and we're in the street. I mean, come on!

The amount of cigs I smoke per day has declined over the years from 20-25 to 10-15. But still, I'm hopelessly addicted.

If my life plan works out, I'll quit smoking sometime in the future.....

*stumps out cigarette*

[LeftEyeNine]

If my life plan works out, I'll quit smoking sometime in the future.....

I'd like to encourage you but...well...

[Byzantine Mercenary]

smoking is fine untill it affects others around them and lets face it most smokers don't seem to care, no one has the right to poisen others especially children, the elderly etc, im glad that the goverment is doing somthing about this, you could say its their choice but they arn't the ones that pay for that choice, their relatives do when they get to see them die slowly and suffer, other people around them suffer their second hand smoke and we all pay for this unnessisary healthcare in taxes

[Sjakihata]

I smoke the pipe a couple of times daily, I enjoy it. A warm cup of coffee, checking the org, smoking my pipe - I wouldnt miss that, and I'll gladly subtract some decades from my life in turn for just that! In fact, Im going to prepare one right about.... Mmm, better!

[Samurai Waki]

Cigarettes disgust me. I understand the nicotine addiction, I got over a rather nasty Chewing Habit when I was about 19, and man those first few months were a real ****, I was so cranky and thought I was going to die from stress. Now I'm so happy I'm not addicted anymore, though if I went back I don't think I could quit again. I also hate the former smokers who have the holier-than-though attitude towards people currently addicted.
From time to time, especially when I get hammered I might smoke the occasional cigar.

[SwordsMaster]

Only smoke cigars once in a while (Victory cigars if you will), I think its ok, as far as poisoning oneself, but poisoning others is not on. Not your kids, not co-workers, and specially NOT PEOPLE WAITING FOR THE TUBE There is little enough air underground as it is!

[KukriKhan]

I've smoked since age 18 (I'm 55 now). I won't glorify it - I will, however, say that in 1968 (when I was 18) 90% of the people I knew over the age of 16 smoked... the only non-smokers I knew were little old tea-total ladies and asthmatics. Becoming a smoker then was a 'rite of passage' into adulthood. Real men smoked, and most real women (tho' less).

Of course, that was all bullcrap, perpetrated by Big Tobacco & Hollywood.

Now there has been an entire culture change, as reflected in this thread. The dynamics of addiction are much better understood by the general population, and most smokers (myself included) have become more sensitized to their environment, and the effect their habit has on it, and other people.

I didn't smoke last Thursday through Sunday, because I was travelling (no smoking in airplanes, rental cars, motel rooms, or indoors anywhere). I let the few chances to smoke pass me by, because fumbling for a cigarette and fire, with a 10-minute window of opportunity just seemed too desperate, like I had to hide it. But, once home, I fired one up with my 'welcome home' beer. It felt good.

In the past 10 years, I've cut back from 3 packs a day to about a half-pack (10-12) per day, and I'm proud of that progress. I know that I will have to stop completely some day soon, because, unlike 20 years ago when I felt zero ill effects, I can now feel some of the negative consequences of throwing all those chemicals into my lungs and bloodstream.

If you don't smoke now: don't bother starting, I advise. It's expensive, unhealthy, and more-and-more socially unacceptable. The negatives outweigh any positives, including the 'rebel' image.

[A.Saturnus]

I can feel it coming on, and I know that's when it's time to stop for a while. Addiction is only made a monster that people succomb to. It's totally avoidable and there are no chemicals in your head that make you search out your drug, and program the path to the smoke shop.

75% of all smokers say they would like to stop. If a smokers attempts to stop on his or her own (without help of a therapist or medication), the chance of success is 10%. That doesn't strike me as particular easy to control.

[Craterus]

First off, it is easier to give up heroin than nicotine - it is a fact, ask any former addict (that probably still smokes).

That can't be true . 1 in 40 people manage to kick heroin, and it's a lot easier to get addicted to heroin.

[BHCWarman88]

I hate Smoking,and it Stupid as Hell to Start in the First Place..




"If you don't smoke now: don't bother starting, I advise. It's expensive, unhealthy, and more-and-more socially unacceptable."


Around my Place, One pack of that Trash is $4.79
when I was at there other day, My Dad told me "wow,almost5 bucks a Pack. See Mike,smoking is like getting a 5 dollar bill and just lighting it on fire"
100% Right.


I can see why people would start in the '60,since that was when people were "rebels" and smoking are cool and only "real" Adults did it. Now,if you want to be a Dead Man/Woman and help kill other people (Second Hand Smoke), go smoke..