Tobacco companies had to own up to the fact that smoking is harmful in the 1960s when undeniable evidence came out. People struggled to quit because it is somewhat addictive, but mainly because they enjoyed it.

Those companies then encouraged the rhetoric about it being more addictive than heroin. It isn’t. In my experience it’s less addictive than caffeine.

Here’s my history with nicotine:

  • Smoked cigarettes from 15 - 26.
  • Quit totally for 14 months
  • My friend who smoked moved back to town and I smoked when I was with them.
  • Switched to vaping 8 years ago.
  • Quit vaping in January this year (2024).

I bought 30 cigars at the start of last month (April 2024) and have smoked 9 of them so far. I normally just have 1 a week if I’m having a beer at home but I went out drinking 2 nights in a row at the start of this month and smoked 6 over that weekend.

Am I addicted? Maybe, but I haven’t had any nicotine this week and don’t plan on having any next week either.

    • RedditWanderer@lemmy.world
      1·
      6 months ago

      Personally I was always told quitting was worse than quitting heroin. And when I quit because I wanted to “feel better”, I just did without any of the crazy symptoms they told me about. I think what he is trying to say is craving cigarettes/smoking is not the same as Nicotine addiction.

      I thought I would have to crave cigarettes for the rest of my life, and that simply isn’t true. (I was a very heavy smoker).

  • Delphia@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    5 months ago

    I know its an old post but years ago I saw a therapist who advertised “Quit smoking therapy” where he just encouraged you and talked about the thought processes involved in quitting. Sounded like hokey bullshit but my then girlfriend now wife booked me an appointment after I failed to quit again and this was a topic we covered.

    Im heavily paraphrasing but “They say quitting smoking is really hard, but let me ask you ‘Who benefits the most out of you thinking its really hard?’ The only people who want you to think quitting is really hard is the people selling you cigarettes, because who wants to go do really hard unpleasant shit? I sure as hell dont. So take that “Really hard” mindset and put it aside, its still unpleasant. But we do unpleasant every day, we get up and go to work and thats all quitting smoking is… its work.”

  • Brkdncr@lemmy.world
    1·
    6 months ago

    Counter point: Smoked over half their life with 2-3 breaks, but claims it’s not that addictive.