Starting Smoking
Serious question for all of you that smoke, don't smoke, are trying to quit, were successful at quitting or whatever:
At what age did you start smoking?
My parents didn't smoke, so I would have had to try to buy cigarettes somewhere when I was younger. When I was too stupid to know better, I was too poor to spend the money on cigarettes. Then after I was 18 and had a little money, I was old enough to realize how stupid it would be to smoke. From talking to my friends, it seems like those who have the most trouble with quitting started when they were between 13 and 15 years old. I don't know where this is going, but I'm trying to see if it really is a trend.
At what age did you start smoking?
My parents didn't smoke, so I would have had to try to buy cigarettes somewhere when I was younger. When I was too stupid to know better, I was too poor to spend the money on cigarettes. Then after I was 18 and had a little money, I was old enough to realize how stupid it would be to smoke. From talking to my friends, it seems like those who have the most trouble with quitting started when they were between 13 and 15 years old. I don't know where this is going, but I'm trying to see if it really is a trend.
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Started at 15. Quit when I was 23 (Dec 18, 1979) haven't had one since. I was at a pack and a half when I quit and it was very hard. The only way to quit is to just stop. To this day I haven't had another cigarette, cigar or pipe. I know that if I had one I would be smoking again. 0 -
They have medically proven that if you start smoking before the age of 18 years old (while still developing), Nicotine becomes encoded into the human brain as a chemical that the body needs to survive. It is supposed to be a lot harder to quit if you start before the age of 18. 0 -
I started at 14 and stopped at 29 0 -
Had a friend that tried smoking when she was a young girl. Her father caught her smoking and set her down at the kitchen table. Daddy made her eat all of the remaining cigarettes in the pack. (Something that would be considered child abuse these days.) She got sick and never touched another cigarette. 0 -
I started when I was 5 or 6, seriously, I smoked untill I was about 30, 2 packs a day. quit cold turkey, I guess I had more willpower back then, I'm sure having more problem kicking the morphine after 5 years for pain. 0 -
I started when I was 17, a college freshman on a night full of beer.
I quit at 28, the beer and cigarettes go together like shoes and socks so quitting smoking pretty well meant quitting drinking for me also.0 -
Started at age 11, was smoking 2-3 packs a day in college and quite at age 22 just before I got married. 0 -
Started at age 24 on the odd cigar, 26 on cigarettes, not consistantly though. That's when I first learned how to smoke without coughing.
I've never smoked more than 1/3 a pack a day and usually no more than 3 per day. Honestly if I tried I think I'd get sick. Dunno how some suck down 3 packs a day.
Guess I better stop before I find out.0 -
started at age 12. Quit at age 18. At age 23 I had a cigar at my best friend's wedding reception, and the next day I went out and bought a pack...
It took one relapse to put me back at a pack/day.
I wish I would have never started.
Ben0 -
Never smoked in my life, after being given a cigar by my great uncle when I expressed interest at around 14.
He let me smoke part of one, and I turned green![:D]
Unfortunately I started using Skoal when I was 16, and have been on and off with the stuff ever since.
Very hard to quit for good.0 -
Yes, started smoking at a early age and really into smoking during WW 2
when all K and C rations had cigarettes in them plus a carton a week when possible in combat. Went to cigars many years ago. About 5 weeks ago out of a clear blue sky I packed my leftover cigars in the humidor
(about 20 of them) and just plain quit. No big thing. Only time I miss a smoke at all is when out in the woods on the ATV and then only for a moment. Maybe being in my 80's, it doesnt bother me that much. When shooter 4 comes over tomorro he gets my leftover cigars.0 -
I have a brother who came home from the hospital yesterday, bringing oxegen tanks with him, and might have to keep them handy for life. His wife put a sign on their door that says, "No Smoking Inside." He has smoked all his life, as far as I can remember, and has always said he'd rather have lung cancer than to be fat..I think he just changed his mind.
As for myself, I smoked from the age of 13 to 63, and my lungs aren't exactly the best now either. I'm 69 now, and I run out of breath walking to the mailbox.
If you have a brain at all, or even THINK you do..DON'T START! If you already do it..QUIT NOW!!! Oh, and that nasty raunchy stinking crap you put in your mouth called "snuff," or "smokeless tobacco.." It's gonna get you too. That can almost be considered to be a promise. Dammit, stop it. You have to be stark raving mad to mess with tobacco in any form.0 -
Possibly one of the greatest arguements the an Evolutionist has...Smoking!!! 0 -
quote:ECC
They have medically proven that if you start smoking before the age of 18 years old (while still developing), Nicotine becomes encoded into the human brain as a chemical that the body needs to survive. It is supposed to be a lot harder to quit if you start before the age of 18.
Started when I was 14 and I can quit anytime I want to.
(Where the h3ll are my smokes at, I'm gonna hurt someone if I don't find em)
Seriously I've wanted to quit for a while but don't have the willpower yet.0 -
I recall reading some time ago that the number of people that take up smoking as adults is infinitesimal - the overwhelming majority take it up as teenagers. To each his own, but I personally don't know how tobacco execs sleep at night. 0 -
I started at 13 and quit 19 yrs later...[:D] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by oldgunner
I have a brother who came home from the hospital yesterday, bringing oxegen tanks with him, and might have to keep them handy for life. His wife put a sign on their door that says, "No Smoking Inside." He has smoked all his life, as far as I can remember, and has always said he'd rather have lung cancer than to be fat..I think he just changed his mind.
As for myself, I smoked from the age of 13 to 63, and my lungs aren't exactly the best now either. I'm 69 now, and I run out of breath walking to the mailbox.
If you have a brain at all, or even THINK you do..DON'T START! If you already do it..QUIT NOW!!! Oh, and that nasty raunchy stinking crap you put in your mouth called "snuff," or "smokeless tobacco.." It's gonna get you too. That can almost be considered to be a promise. Dammit, stop it. You have to be stark raving mad to mess with tobacco in any form.
Thanks Oldgunner for the advice,.......I know better, but still keep messing with it.
You have made me think again.
I am going to try to quit once again,.......sooner or later it will stick.0 -
started at 13. 0 -
Both parents smoked, but I never have. I've never even tried one and can't stand being around people who are smoking or have the smell of smoke in their cloths. Needless to say, my wife doesn't smoke and fortunately our daughter doesn't either. 0 -
I started smoking at 14, same age that I started drinking. I just didn't feel right drinking a beer without a cigarette. 0 -
[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][;)]
quote:Originally posted by sav99
I started smoking at 14, same age that I started drinking. I just didn't feel right drinking a beer without a cigarette.0 -
17 in boot camp ! 0 -
Started chewing at 14. 0 -
started at 15 (1966) quit from: 1982-1987, 1989-1994, 2004-2005, and so on....
It's easy for me to quit, but then when I run into some emotional or financial problem I'm back at it. Good luck to all who quit. At least my health is good 120/60 blood pressure and walk 4 miles a day.0 -
I started smoking cigarettes at about 14. Both of my parents were from Eastern Europe and were very heavy smokers (I'm not sure if I ever saw my father without a cigarette). I gave up cigarettes when I started working as a petroleum engineer for Union Oil at age 22 and discovered that smoking while working at an oil refinery was probably not the brightest idea! I then started dipping and gave that up after several years (dip was much harder to give up than cigarettes) for cigars and eventually I gave those up as well. Like most people I wish I had never started smoking and I am damned glad I managed to give up tobacco. 0 -
Started sneaking Dad's Camels when I was 5 or 6. Smoked till I was 38. Nothing I tried worked because I was trying instead of doing. Stopped smoking in the house first and would almost puke when I would get in my car in the morning. Saw an ad in the paper to quit by group hypnosis for $39.95. Figured if I didn't smoke for 2 weeks I'd break even. So I went alone, no friends for support so I could focus on me. Well it was a pisser and it worked for me. 12 years this past October! 0 -
STARTED CHEWING SNUFF AT 10.NOW I CAN;T SEEM TO QUIT.THAT WAS 30 YEARS AGO. 0 -
about the age of 32 started by smoking a occasional cigar while fishing, then started fishing more often, then cut out the fishing but kept on smoking, quit last January but still crave it everyday, i still chew a pea size of chew to get over it
it is stupid at any age0 -
First tried in the boys lockeroom at the age of 15. About coughed a lung up, and never tried another one since. 0 -
Started at 16, quit at 52. Ten days in cardiac ICU did it for me! 0
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