Another random poll. SBR (for me anyway)

SusieBW

Do you smoke cigarettes?

SnShne322

I did for a couple years in my early 20s. 

SusieBW

It's SBR for me because I'm currently reading a book about the history of cancer research right now, and it has really raised my awareness about a lot of things.  I think about smoking and people who smoke more lately than I used to - and by that I mean the societal aspects of it - the advertising, marketing, education, PR, etc. from both cigarette companies and anti-smoking groups.  It's kind of fascinating.

SusieBW

SnShne322 said:

I did for a couple years in my early 20s. 

Me too.  In college and law school, mostly.  And then socially (i.e. when I was drinking) until I got pregnant with Tatum.  I think I've had 3-4 cigarettes since she was born, and always regretted it the next morning.

SnShne322

I've thought about it recently and I've noticed that the number of smokers around me has decreased over the years.  My father quit and a few friends have too.  Obviously, I can't say that's a trend in general, but I'm hopeful.

SusieBW

I agree, and I kind of think it is a trend.  I think a lot of the anti-smoking campaigns are having some impact, but maybe I'm just being an optimist. 

I know in college we used to joke that smoking was the best time waster ever.  Have to wait around outside the Union for your friend to get out of class?  Smoke a butt.  At least it gave you something to do while you're killing time on campus.  But smart phones have cured that problem.  Now you can play candy crush while you wait!

RhymeReason

Now that I am not around smokers on a regular basis, like I was growing up with my family, I can smell it on people much more strongly. That being said, I know very few people who do smoke.

queenofhearts1728

I smoked in HS because I thought it was cool. My grandma was diagnosed with lung cancer my senior year though, and I stopped all smoking immediately. Both of my grandmothers died from smoking related diseases... my mom's mom from lung cancer, my dad's mom from emphysema. 

MrsJenE

H just quit. It's been over three months now. One thing I noticed when we moved back to the Boston area is that there are A LOT more smokers here than in LA.

caseyandlizzie

I was a social smoker from my senior year of high school up until a few years ago. A beer and a cigarette was always a good combination, then smoking was banned at bars, and a lot of my smoker friends moved away. I've had maybe 5 cigarettes in the past 2 years, and like you, always regret it the next day.

SusieBW

MrsJenE said:

H just quit. It's been over three months now. One thing I noticed when we moved back to the Boston area is that there are A LOT more smokers here than in LA.

Which is even more interesting when SnShne and I both commented that we notice fewer people smoking than we used to see.  So the Boston area used to be even worse, apparently (this is a very scientific observation, LOL).  Seriously, though, I think LA/west coast is generally a lot more health conscious than here.  Probably more so than a lot of the US, actually.

RevJen

I've noticed that in NJ too.  I think as bars and restaurants have banned smoking for the most part, people tend to do it out of sight.  I think what shocked me more was when I started here and I saw just how many people STILL smoke.  Other than one person in my home life, most people I know don't.

queenofhearts1728

One of the reasons I love living in CO is smoking restrictuions. You're not even allowed to smoke within so many feet of entry ways to businesses anymore. Because of our wildfires, they're not even truly letting people smoke outside in general anymore, because people are careless with the cigarette butts. It's hard to enforce, but if you're caught, especially during fire season, you can get huge fines.

pinkybooklover09

I smoked for like 3 months when I was 18 just because I was angsty and wanted to do something to seem independent. I hated the way I smelled the entire time I did it.

LaBellaBarv66

We have a hookah that we smoke socially but that's it

krispy83

SusieBW said:

MrsJenE said:

H just quit. It's been over three months now. One thing I noticed when we moved back to the Boston area is that there are A LOT more smokers here than in LA.

Which is even more interesting when SnShne and I both commented that we notice fewer people smoking than we used to see.  So the Boston area used to be even worse, apparently (this is a very scientific observation, LOL).  Seriously, though, I think LA/west coast is generally a lot more health conscious than here.  Probably more so than a lot of the US, actually.

I would agree with this - having lived in both LA and New York, I was really surprised at how many people smoke in New York (and saw this when I traveled to Boston as well) when compared to LA.

sonore32

H and I lived in what I would deem more populated areas (Baltimore, DC, Pittsburgh) and I have to admit I didn't know a lot of smokers....then a year ago we moved to West Virginia. Oh my goodness, I would say at least 50% of the population here smokes. In fact last year I was introduced to "Tobacco Outlets"....never realized they existed before. Hubby thinks it's hysterical that our local supermarket has one and the sign for it is right next to the sign for the pharmacy!

We are so excited this year though that they have made our whole campus smoke free...now we don't feel like we walk into a smoker's lounge every time we leave a building. It's been wonderful.

NicoleAnne416

I was a heavy smoker. I smoked from 17 (almost 18) until I got pregnant with my first at 21. Started up again after he was born, quit again with my second, started up again (24), quit this last January (28), picked it up again because well I was weak and DH kept cheating when I said to knock it off it was tempting me as we were going through a stressful time at the moment, and I gave in (kicked myself for it for a good 3.5 months), planned to quit, bought patches, found out I was pregnant, and well duh. I was already going to quit so there ya go! I don't miss it at all and I hated myself daily for continuing to smoke from May-August. Much easier to quit the second time around for some reason for me, too. Done and done. I don't judge others, but I know that after years of smoking, it was sure taking a toll on me mentally and physically. My head is so much more clear when I don't smoke, as well as my lungs obviously! yuck.

GilliC

I smoked a cigarette once in a while during the year I lived in Beijing. I figured it couldn't be too much worse than the air I was breathing, and at least it had a filter. But I've probably smoked less than a pack in my entire lifetime.

SusieBW

GilliC said:

I smoked a cigarette once in a while during the year I lived in Beijing. I figured it couldn't be too much worse than the air I was breathing, and at least it had a filter. But I've probably smoked less than a pack in my entire lifetime.

Ouch.  Sad, but potentially true, I guess.  Did a lot of people wear masks when you lived there?  Its so scary that pollution on that level is still allowed. 

GilliC

SusieBW said:

GilliC said:

I smoked a cigarette once in a while during the year I lived in Beijing. I figured it couldn't be too much worse than the air I was breathing, and at least it had a filter. But I've probably smoked less than a pack in my entire lifetime.

Ouch.  Sad, but potentially true, I guess.  Did a lot of people wear masks when you lived there?  Its so scary that pollution on that level is still allowed. 

No, the masks are mostly just for germs. They were fairly common during the SARS outbreak, but that was slightly before my time.

I was there during Bird Flu, so instead of masks and staying inside away from people, the precaution was just "Don't touch the lovely birds" (direct quote from our company health & safety official).

SusieBW

GilliC said:

I was there during Bird Flu, so instead of masks and staying inside away from people, the precaution was just "Don't touch the lovely birds" (direct quote from our company health & safety official).

Ha!  So was it okay to touch the ugly birds?

Kate&Mark

I worked at a deli in HS for a bit and going out for a smoke was the only way you got a break, so I smoked while working. I also smoked for a bit after a friend died in HS. And then the boy I liked told me he wouldn't kiss a smoker, so that got dropped fast, lol.

AshleyT121

I smoked heavily all through HS and into my adult life until I got pregnant (which is when I quit cold turkey).  

Just this summer I started smoking again when I was drinking (which is not often at all), but then it grew to smoking some evenings after Adelaide went to bed. I'd take a beer out on the deck and have a few cigarettes. (Always outside... I have NEVER smoked inside my house).

I've been really battling with this over the last couple of weeks because I realize that it has become a problem again. I find myself really looking forward to bedtime so I can go outside and have a cigarette. It's SO bad and it needs to stop. I've been reading everything I can today about all the health risks of smoking, trying to drive the point home and remember how good I felt for the 1.5 years I didn't smoke. 

SnShne322

AshleyT121 said:

I smoked heavily all through HS and into my adult life until I got pregnant (which is when I quit cold turkey).  

Just this summer I started smoking again when I was drinking (which is not often at all), but then it grew to smoking some evenings after Adelaide went to bed. I'd take a beer out on the deck and have a few cigarettes. (Always outside... I have NEVER smoked inside my house).

I've been really battling with this over the last couple of weeks because I realize that it has become a problem again. I find myself really looking forward to bedtime so I can go outside and have a cigarette. It's SO bad and it needs to stop. I've been reading everything I can today about all the health risks of smoking, trying to drive the point home and remember how good I felt for the 1.5 years I didn't smoke. 

We're here for support of you need it!

SnShne322

I saw today that a pack of Marlboros is $9.18. HOLY CRAP.  At my old smoking habits that would be $1800 a year.  It was still under $4 when I was smoking.

AshleyT121

SnShne322 said:

I saw today that a pack of Marlboros is $9.18. HOLY CRAP.  At my old smoking habits that would be $1800 a year.  It was still under $4 when I was smoking.

Yeah, I just about choked when I went to buy a pack for the first time.  It was $11 and I bought a "value brand". I don't even want to know what the big brands would be.

GilliC

@SusieBW said:

GilliC said:

I was there during Bird Flu, so instead of masks and staying inside away from people, the precaution was just "Don't touch the lovely birds" (direct quote from our company health & safety official).

Ha!  So was it okay to touch the ugly birds?

I guess he just figured it was less of a risk, because no one would want to?

RiverPlate

I smoked heavily for about 10 years.  If a day involved going out and drinking, I could easily go through a pack and a half to 2 in a day.  Quitting was one of the hardest things I've ever done, and I will never pick up another because of how hard it was for me to quit.  MH quit at the same time, and didn't have as difficult an experience - but he was the kind of person who would chain-smoke a pack and then not have another for a couple days.

It was pretty popular among people in my age group - bars were smoky places and work was stressful - the smoking area at my office was often where the best information was exchanged.  Since the ban on smoking, I've noticed fewer people smoking, maybe it's an age-group thing.  The 30-somethings still smoke but rarely go out, the 20-somethings go out more often but don't smoke?  And social smokers won't make the effort to go outside?  Of my friends that once smoked, most of my female friends who had kids between then and now have quit, but the husbands and women who haven't had kids yet still smoke.

SusieBW

@Riverplate - I was the same way when I was in college and law school - I could easily go through a pack or more in a day, if the end of the day included sitting at a bar for a few hours (and a lot of days did during my last year of law school).  But I've always been like your H, and able to smoke a pack in one day and then not smoke at all for a week.

@AshleyT121 - what you're describing going through now is about where I was for the 6-12 months before I got pregnant with Tatum.  It was mostly just when I was drinking, but every now and then I would have one on my drive home from work after a rough day.  And then I would be out on the deck with a drink and a smoke in the evening.  DH quit about 7 years ago now, and he had the sort of addiction where if he were to even have a drag now, he'd be right back to where he was really fast, so I think it kind of drove him nuts that I was still smoking sometimes.  I know he hated that I could just smoke now and then and then quit.  But I did sometimes look forward to those cigarettes, so I completely get how you feel.  DH found this website that describes the benefits to your health from not smoking, starting from 20 minutes after your last cigarette and going up through 20 years after your last cigarette.  He looks at it from time to time to remind himself, and he sends it to friends that he knows are struggling to quit.  Maybe it will help you out.  Good luck, and SnShne is right - we're here if you need some support!

jenndawnp

I voted special snowflake because I smoke like 3 a year when I'm drunk.