Why did adults start smoking?

Answer 1

According to the American Heart Association, about 18% of the US population smokes, and this despite all the signs, public health campaigns, exposed health dangers and the fact that smoke will hang around your body, hair and clothes and give you the tell-tale discoloration of fingers, lips and teeth. Why does someone ever begin?

Here are the top reasons people start smoking:

1. Peer Pressure - Everyone is doing it and I want to look 'cool'.
2. Social Rewards - I am part of a group and don't we look sophisticated?
3. Risk-taking Behavior - It's another line to cross and I don't like rules.
4. Parents smoked - You grew up with it, it's OK for the parents, so why not?
5. Tobacco Advertising - Light cigarettes, safer cigarettes, the women are long, lean and beautiful and the men are manly-men. Anything to sell the product.
6. Genetic Predisposition to Addiction - Once you take your first puff, even on a dare, you're hooked.
7. Self-medication - Nicotine addicts report the following feelings: reduced tension, reduced appetite, sense of well-being and a feeling of peace for that moment.
8. Media Influences - Like peer pressure and advertising, someone you want to be like smokes, so it's OK because they should know.
9. Stress Relief - You blow out the stress and see it dissipate when you blow out the smoke.

According to the American Heart Association, about 18% of the US population smokes, and this despite all the signs, public health campaigns, exposed health dangers and the fact that smoke will hang around your body, hair and clothes and give you the tell-tale discoloration of fingers, lips and teeth. Why does someone ever begin?
Here are the top reasons people start smoking:

1. Peer Pressure - Everyone is doing it and I want to look 'cool'.
2. Social Rewards - I am part of a group and don't we look sophisticated?
3. Risk-taking Behavior - It's another line to cross and I don't like rules.
4. Parents smoked - You grew up with it, it's OK for the parents, so why not?
5. Tobacco Advertising - Light cigarettes, safer cigarettes, the women are long, lean and beautiful and the men are manly-men. Anything to sell the product.
6. Genetic Predisposition to Addiction - Once you take your first puff, even on a dare, you're hooked.
7. Self-medication - Nicotine addicts report the following feelings: reduced tension, reduced appetite, sense of well-being and a feeling of peace for that moment.
8. Media Influences - Like peer pressure and advertising, someone you want to be like smokes, so it's OK because they should know.
9. Stress Relief - You blow out the stress and see it dissipate when you blow out the smoke.

Answer 2

Usually it's suggested by someone "to relieve stress".

For me, though, it was different. My girlfriend is very orally fixated and, among her many oral habits, she smokes. I had suggested that she considers stopping, only to be rebuffed countless times. She was always placing her cigarette to my mouth in jest, and I'd just get angry when she did.

One day she promised that if I would "just try it for awhile" and smoke like she does for a month we'd both quit together. It took some time but, as it was getting to me and affecting my feelings for her, I decided to take her up on it.

It took me about 6 weeks to get to her level which was a little over a pack each day. I had the summer off and she wasn't working so every time she'd light one for herself I lit one for myself. I asked her how long "awhile" was. "Till you go back to work", which wasn't for another two months. So I did it.

Come the start of the school year, I reminded her of her promise, that we'd quit together and she did! But I couldn't!!! All I could think about was smoking.

Needless to say, we both smoke now and the strange thing is that, now, when she smokes I don't find the smell bad. I actually sort of like it. But I promise to quit when the school year ends. She just laughs.....

Don't start, it's very hard to stop and now I understand why she couldn't, despite my nagging.

Answer 3

I think the majority of people begin smoking cigarettes as teenagers, out of rebellion, and then wind up addicted and just keep on smoking. That was how I started smoking, when I was 15. I had been a good girl all my life, and then one day I just decided I wanted to be bad. So I started smoking, drinking, and staying out late. And all of my friends who smoke also began smoking as teenagers.

Answer 4

because they are ...not cue