Help Ely Quit Smoking

[Scarface]

Sure. Have you ever heard of an occasional smoker? How about an occasional heroin user? I bet you've heard of the former, and not the latter.

[Eilonnwy]

Scarface, nicotine is proven to be addictive. Studies upon studies have shown its addictive nature. I know I am addicted because it's torture right now for me not to go out and smoke. Sheer willpower is keeping me from smoking. I still feel like I need to smoke, that is addiction.

If you want to refuse to believe the actual science of addiction, that's fine, but you'd still be wrong. Have you ever heard of the occasional drinker? What do you think alcoholism is? It's an addiction. Doesn't matter that some people drink without any problems.

I don't care how many people you reference who occasionally smoke, that doesn't negate the millions who are addicted. It's fact.

BTW, I smoked 7-10 cigarettes a day too, sometimes less, sometimes more. I consider at least one a day to be addicted. An occasional smoker as far as I'm concerned is someone who does it every few weeks or months.

[theVOID]

Sure. Have you ever heard of an occasional smoker? How about an occasional heroin user? I bet you've heard of the former, and not the latter.

I have heard of both mate, i've dug the H a few times - Does my not getting addicted to H make H not addictive? Nope, just means that the plan with which i approached use was indeed sufficient to stop me gaining a dependency.

Just a quick question Scarface - Do you or any of your friend/family work for the tobacco industry?

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

Sure. Have you ever heard of an occasional smoker? How about an occasional heroin user? I bet you've heard of the former, and not the latter.

Might be an idea for you to bone up on the nature of addiction generally, and of nicotine especially.Right now you just seem ignorant.


It's quite possible to use heroin [infrequently] recreationally without addiction over a long period. One hit does not cause addiction.

Nicotine is actually more addictive than heroin,and a harder addiction to manage.

I would like to thank this nations leading expert on addiction, Jack Henningfield for pointing out that nicotine is more addictive than heroin, alcohol, or cocaine. A true voice uncorrupted by tobacco money. I would also add that tobacco has a far higher death rate (33%?) than either heroin, alcohol, or cocaine. Yet, addiction criteria alone does not determine the nicotine (or illicit drug) health threat.

The body of scientific evidence now indicates that harm associated with both heroin & nicotine is the result of contaminates in the drug delivery devices. Other than addiction itself neither nicotine nor heroin pose significant behavioral or toxicological threats (given the use of safe/effective drug delivery devices).

http://www.lycaeum.org/drugwar/hening.html



A hint;Google is your friend.

[Scarface]

Scarface, nicotine is proven to be addictive. Studies upon studies have shown its addictive nature. I know I am addicted because it's torture right now for me not to go out and smoke. Sheer willpower is keeping me from smoking. I still feel like I need to smoke, that is addiction.

If you want to refuse to believe the actual science of addiction, that's fine, but you'd still be wrong. Have you ever heard of the occasional drinker? What do you think alcoholism is? It's an addiction. Doesn't matter that some people drink without any problems.

I don't care how many people you reference who occasionally smoke, that doesn't negate the millions who are addicted. It's fact.

BTW, I smoked 7-10 cigarettes a day too, sometimes less, sometimes more. I consider at least one a day to be addicted. An occasional smoker as far as I'm concerned is someone who does it every few weeks or months.

I suppose the one thing we can agree on then is that some people get addicted and others don't. Perhaps the addiction equation does involve the individual after all.

[Shinylight]

Sure. Have you ever heard of an occasional smoker? How about an occasional heroin user? I bet you've heard of the former, and not the latter.

How does that point to nicotine not being addictive?

[Scarface]

Well let's see. Some people become addicted, others don't. The nicotine is there for both, yet not everyone gets addicted. Therefore, addiction depends on the individual's reaction to the nicotine, and also, their personality. This is why we have the term "addictive personality". Have you heard of that term?

[Shinylight]

Yes there is an individual factor, some people have more willpower than others. But if people get addicted then the substance is addictive. As it is widespread then it can be attributed to a chemical factor. Not just a psychological one.

[theVOID]

Actually "addictive personality" has nothing to do with physical dependency to a drug, it is a psychological dependency.

I guarantee you that if we gave you 10 smokes a day every day for a year, you would not be able to stop smoking without having withdrawals and craving - It's because your body has become used to the nicotine binding to receptor sites on the cell and stimulating them, and when the stimuli is no longer available the body feels like it is broken, giving you the urges to fix it.

[Scarface]

I can guarantee you that I would be able to stop. I know this because I've done it. I used to smoke more than that, for far longer than a year, and one day I decided to stop, and I didn't smoke again for a couple of years. No cravings, no withdrawal symptoms. Don't be shocked by that, many many smokers do the same. The misconception is that all smokers are addicts. That's not true. Eilonnwy appears to be one of those people who are addicted. Right now she'd love to have a smoke and she's probably struggling. I on the other hand had my last cigarette (the 2nd of the day and probably the last) five hours ago. So as you can see it depends to a large extent on the individual. Why is it that when I'm not smoking I don't particularly miss it, and Eilonnwy can't get her mind off it?