Why do so many people smoke?

People have different reasons, people I know are addicted. I'm not addicted, which makes me happy. But I smoke with friends to relax and also smoke other stuff but make a point of smoking at least once a month or more. But never more than a few times a month. Works for me and prevents addiction

Reply 21

SannaS

10

It all starts with that one fag and curiosity....

Reply 22

Ashir

Original post by loz957

I was out with some friends yesterday evening and I was literally the only non-smoker in the group. Also, everybody who I got chatting to during the evening smoked as well. When there can be no doubt as to the damage that smoking does to your body it amazes me that anybody smokes. My friends tell me that they enjoy smoking but I don't see how something so smelly and disgusting can be enjoyable.

In the old times they didn't know that smoking was bad for your health, so it was extremely common. Numbers have dwindled now but it remains the second largest cause of preventable death after obesity.

Reply 23

username917703

17

How many people on here who smoke have mothers who smoked when she was carrying you?

My mum was a smoker when I was a foetus and I heard that this can make it more likely that the child will become a smoker. I am a non-smoker now but have smoked before for about 3-4 years.

Reply 24

james04k

Cause of it's addiction, initially they start on someone offer like when friend try it, it's cool and have wonderful flavor ever so you just try it and then you just become addicted then you came to know that it's bad for health but you can't give up cause of addiction.

Reply 25

Rarrgh

12

Started because I had a lot of stress and crap going on. Had never had a problem with it and tried it before hand and after a day or two of actually smoking properly I enjoyed it so have done it ever since.

Reply 26

whyumadtho

14

Many people are susceptible to peer pressure.

Reply 27

GottaLovePhysics! :)

17

If you were out drinking, that probarly increased the number of smokers.

Alcohol lowers inhibitions and nicotine is much nicer when a bit tipsy, so wheras maybe less than half your friends smoke daily, after everyone has had a few drinks in them they fancy a fag.

Reply 28

Pastaferian

17

Original post by loz957

I was out with some friends yesterday evening and I was literally the only non-smoker in the group. Also, everybody who I got chatting to during the evening smoked as well. When there can be no doubt as to the damage that smoking does to your body it amazes me that anybody smokes. My friends tell me that they enjoy smoking but I don't see how something so smelly and disgusting can be enjoyable.

Why do they smoke? Presumably because no one has told them "It's like kissing an ashtray". But it's their decision in the end.

Reply 29

Skip_Snip

3

Low intelligence I guess

Reply 30

arkhamz

15

A lot of them say it's to relieve stress when really smoking increases stress levels.

Reply 31

Stevo112

17

arkhamz just beat me to it...

Smokers are funny in that they believe stress is reduced by smoking, when in actual fact because they smoke they develop higher levels of stress!

Or so this study says; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10540594

Reply 32

LethalBeans

13

Original post by loz957

I was out with some friends yesterday evening and I was literally the only non-smoker in the group. Also, everybody who I got chatting to during the evening smoked as well. When there can be no doubt as to the damage that smoking does to your body it amazes me that anybody smokes. My friends tell me that they enjoy smoking but I don't see how something so smelly and disgusting can be enjoyable.

I know quite a lot of people who do it too. A lot of young people that I know tend to 'try' smoking whilst socialising in a group of friends, I for one am one of these people. But there's a difference between curiosity and stupidity (or is there?).

In terms of people who actively do it, many start because they think it's basically cool/mature/unorthodox/relaxing/motivating etc. I have even experienced people doing it for attention.

Non-smoker friends try to warn smokers but many say "I can stop when I want to, don't worry". Give it a few weeks, and they can't stop.

The main excuse people say is smoking is relaxing but to me it's like a catalyst, it speeds up both sides of the argument equally. Yeah, you may feel like a dragon pursing your lips and exhaling smoke through your nose - but when you're not smoking you're always gonna be stressing about your next smoke.

Reply 33

arkhamz

15

Original post by Stevo112

arkhamz just beat me to it...

Smokers are funny in that they believe stress is reduced by smoking, when in actual fact because they smoke they develop higher levels of stress!

Or so this study says; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10540594