This post is not a direct response to Stephanie's post on smokers. Stephanie's post was very well done and informative.
This is just my thoughts and feelings toward the issue of being told over and over again to "Just Quit, Already!"
The biggest thing in reading the comments on Stephanie's post was the reference to smoking as a choice.
I wish folks would stop calling smoking a "choice". It may have been a "choice" when I was 11, but by time I was 14, it was a full blown addiction.
There was no "Smoking is bad for you" at the time that I started, it was just a part of life. Every male member in my family smoked either cigs or cigars. By time they got around to telling everyone it was bad, I was a full blown smoker.
Matter of a fact, there where bulletin boards all over the place advertising cigs and even ads in every magazine. Everywhere, were the prompts to smoke. Now society wants us to "just quit, already!"
I seriously don't think the economy could handle everybody quitting. States across the nation will lose billions in revenue. Yes, maybe in a couple of generations you will start seeing the benefits, such as in medical costs and healthier people.
As with most all the smokers I know that have quit, have substituted their habit for another habit, mostly eating. To me that will not make for healthier people, just fatter and with a different set of medical issues.
I have no answers here, just ramblings of an addicted mind scared about being forced to give up my stash. Or even worse yet being turned into a criminal, by being a smoker. Just the thought that people want to make smoking illegal, hurts my brain.
If they make smoking illegal, HOW will I get cigs? My mind is scrambling already! I truly feel like I'm going to have to go down some dark alley and secretly buy them from some gangster, like they did in the prohibition times.
How is smoking any different from drinking or drugs. Well let me tell you..I drank for over 30 years and it took me 6 months to quit. I did drugs for 3 years and it took me a whole year to ween myself off of it. I have not gone back to either one. I have tried to quit smoking 5 times and have never been successful.
As I sit here and I think of all the addictions I have had and quit. Sex, drugs, drinking, gambling, partying and I feel very proud of myself for tackling all of them. I have two addictions left, coffee and smoking. I can bet ya, if they made coffee illegal there would be an uprising from the whole country!
My mind has just went to all the "ways to quit smoking". All the gums and pills the advertise all over the tv. First, that gum is disgusting! Second, have you heard all the side affects to those pills! That is scarier than dying a slow death.
I am confident that someday I will be able to quit successfully, but I really hate the idea of being forced to do it.
I totally get the fact that we need to find ways to keep the next generation from picking up a cig, I soo don't want my grandkids or nieces and nephews to pick up the habit.
I just wish they would find a way that didn't involve being discriminated against.
Just a few things I find to be crazy..
Bf got this: we can't continue to treat your breast cancer, unless you agree to quit smoking. She's been smoking for 50 yrs, like she would be able to quit. Get serious!
I HAD a elderly friend..naturally there was something wrong with him. The doctors told him he had to quit smoking, after smoking for more than 50 years. He went 2 weeks without smoking and died. His body went into shock!
If they make cigs illegal, they better get my room ready!
Well, I don't know if any of that made any sense, but thanks for listening to my rant.
