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Social Smokers

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 115

OK, now this might not be the answer I am "supposed" to be giving... not very politically correct....

But: yes, it annoys me to know the marketing targeting social smoking, the image they are trying to give it. But then again: our world IS dominated by marketing. It is also up to us to try to see behind the fact that people are trying to sell us and nudge us to buy things we don't need, don't want- or that might kill us.

But concerning the "social smokers" question:

We on this site are all living proof that we were not able to restrain ourselves to social smoking. There was something in our personalities that made us go for the "all-or-nothing", that made us carry around the pack of cigarettes everywhere we went. We started as social smokers and lost control. This is why we are all here.

If we had managed to stay "social smokers"- a couple a week/ a month / a year- we would not be on this site. But I think we have to admit that there ARE people out there that manage to do just that. I know a bundle! A cigarette from time to time. And we envy them, as we will NEVER be able to do this- we are addicts. The thing is, when you start smoking, you don't know whether your personality and the life you will lead will allow you to remain a social smoker- or become addicted and sick from it. So basically, I would discourage anybody from even trying.

Now of course, even smoking a cigarette from time to time is unhealthy. Then again, so is alcohol. Or eating unhealthy foods (even if they are yummy). Or not sleeping enough. Or working out too much. Or being in a bad mood all the time.

The problem is always the QUANTITY. If you compare it to alcohol: I see myself as a "social drinker". I will enjoy a glass of wine from time to time with friends, will very rarely go overboard. BUT: it is linked to social, special occasions: I would not start drinking whiskey and wine for breakfast, while waiting for the bus, etc etc etc. So in this case, it is GOOD that drinking is linked to social situations. Everything else would be addictive: and frowned upon by "society".

Now, if we managed to TRULY link smoking ONLY to social and VERY rare situations (I am sure the indians didn't smoke a peace pipe outside of the given ritual- or for another example take the use of hallucinogenic drugs in rituals in other cultures).then, actually, smoking would be ok in these circumstances.

Maybe it is possible for some.

But not for us ever again...

Cat

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 4/14/2009
Smoke-Free Days: 66
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 1,320
Amount Saved: �303.60
Life Gained:
Days: 5 Hrs: 6 Mins: 34 Seconds: 54

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1904

Sarah, what is the addiction rate for nicotine? It seems that I did run across it a few years ago, and that I remember that it is really high.

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 5/1/2009
Smoke-Free Days: 48
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 1,296
Amount Saved: $486.00
Life Gained:
Days: 5 Hrs: 7 Mins: 58 Seconds: 20

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 955

Great discussion going on here members!

Anyone identify with this? How did being a social smoker affect you? Please share your experience!

Sarah, Health Educator

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15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 39

I used to be a social smoker...

Unfortunately I socialized all the time..

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 4/1/2009
Smoke-Free Days: 78
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 1,560
Amount Saved: $429.00
Life Gained:
Days: 11 Hrs: 10 Mins: 17 Seconds: 7

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1904

I was never a social smoker. I smoked under all conditions. That's not to say that the participants in the article are not in denial. It is to say that I don't believe in making assumptions about others' behaviors until I know them well. Throughout my years in Al-Alon, I often heard how 'we' are the chosen few because we have help. The assumption tends to be that those who are not in the program need the help just as much as we did. I say while many people are sick, some are still sicker than others. The fact that some smokers are not addicted to nicotine does get under my skin a little, because I'm a nicotine addict. But I've known since a month after I began smoking as a teenager that some people do not get addicted to nicotine. My foster mother smoked a pack about every two weeks for years. Some weeks she didn't smoke at all. She has since quit altogether. But my oldest brother smokes when he parties only. There are bona fide drug (not just nicotine) addicts in my family and my oldest brother can take or leave things and not think about them again until the next party, but now he's given up drinking.

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 5/1/2009
Smoke-Free Days: 48
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 1,296
Amount Saved: $486.00
Life Gained:
Days: 5 Hrs: 7 Mins: 52 Seconds: 17

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 639

We are all living proof that social smoking leads to addiction. Those in this report are in denial.

I breathe freely today because I have made the choice to never take another puff. N.O.P.E.

Keep the Quit!

Dave

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 1/19/2009
Smoke-Free Days: 150
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 4,500
Amount Saved: $1,181.25
Life Gained:
Days: 24 Hrs: 13 Mins: 44 Seconds: 46

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$52,352.46

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Days: 1209 Hours: 12

Minutes: 59 Seconds: 28

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5788

Smoke Free Days
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173,640

Cigarettes Not Smoked

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 2778

I read an interesting editorial this morning about the new anti-smoking bill our most wise President Smoker Obama will sign into law... I'm going to re-read it and post about it tomorrow, as I can't remember all the points that were brought up right now!

Stay tuned!!!

Jim

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 3/5/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 470
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 11,750
Amount Saved: $1,938.75
Life Gained:
Days: 79 Hrs: 17 Mins: 16 Seconds: 52

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$45,817.50

Amount Saved
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Days: 1096 Hours: 13

Minutes: 55 Seconds: 42

Life Gained
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6109

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183,270

Cigarettes Not Smoked

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 916

Big tobbaco is really smart. They even make people think that they are don't smokers!

If you need cigarrettes in social situations , you are hooked to cigarrettes. Your brain thinks that a cigarrette is needed when having a good time at the bar or the night club. Anyway, smoking has no positive effect in our health or mood.

Social smokers are addicts too. Bad thing they don't know yet.

Marivi

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 1/23/2009
Smoke-Free Days: 146
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 2,190
Amount Saved: $219.00
Life Gained:
Days: 16 Hrs: 15 Mins: 51 Seconds: 36

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 222

Whether we smoke 1 a day or 21 a day smoking is bad for your health and smoking kills some of us are affected sooner rather than later I believe that we will all pay the price one way or another for smoking. it's only a matter of time.

So please if you don't smoke never try it, If you do smoke please do everything you can to quit don't wait till you damage your health.

Lillyput

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 1/2/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 533
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 15,990
Amount Saved: �5,836.35
Life Gained:
Days: 74 Hrs: 8 Mins: 3 Seconds: 34

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 11226

Members,

A recent article on msnbc.com discusses a new study that uses tobacco industry research to reach “social smokers.” According to the data, the amount of smokers in the United States is decreasing while the number of social smokers is increasing. Social smokers are people who smoke in social situations but not habitually on a daily basis. They feel they are not “real” smokers.

According to the article, the tobacco industry has researched social smokers in order to increase their market population. They have created advertisements to appeal to the social smoker, implying in advertising that smoking is a great “social lubricant”. In order to counter this advertising campaign Health Educators need to make social smokers aware that they are smokers and their habit is dangerous as well. Even if you are not addicted to cigarettes it is still unhealthy. It will also be important to stress the detrimental effects of second hand smoke. To read more please see: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31332905/from/ET/.

Members, what do you think about this article?

Ashley, Health Educator

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