Smoking.............?

Question

Why is smoking (in your opinion) viewed differently to any other drug addiction?

It is, in essence, a physical dependance upon a drug and yet smokers often seem to get slated rather than helped, as they would if it was cocaine or smack they were addicted to.

What do you think?

The views in this question are not neccesarily my own, by the way!

Answer 1

It's the same as alcohol I think - people don't realize nicotine is a drug, they think it is just something people do to be cool (which is how alot of people prob start). I have never smoked a cigarette in my life, because I think it is a disgusting habit. Why would you purposely put smoke into your lungs, when they teach you that people in fires die not from the flames but from smoke inhalation? It seems so stupid to me. Especially now with all the evidence that smoking causes cancers.

Answer 2

Is less addictive, I suppose. It's like alcoholism - people with an alcohol addition tend to get slated rather than helped too.

It's an interesting question but I suppose it is a question of degree - it takes a heck of a lot more willpower to come off smack (or so I hear, never having had to come off smack myself) than it does to stop smoking, so I suppose people are expected to deal with it themselves.

There are all the NHS stop smoking services etc now, and you can be prescribed nicotine patches so there are moves afoot to help smokers stop.

Answer 3

I would say smoking (cigarettes?) is not treated the same as other two drugs you mention because the harmful effects of smoking takes longer to be noticed. It can take years to see the bad effects of smoking as compared to a one time use of the other two mentioned drugs.
You also, hear of more crimes involving cocaine or smack users because it is so quickly addicting.
I do think all drug users need help but I also understand the urgency of treating the second two you listed as a priority. They are a greater immediate risk to our society as a whole.

Answer 4

I am a smoker and when I wanted help to give up a while back, I was told that before any other help was offered to me, I would have to attend a "Smokers Annonymous" course for 6 months!!! Needless to say, I still smoke!!!

The government are, at present, not able to tax so called "illegal drugs" so they make most of their revenue from smokers and drinkers...!!!

I know more people to have commited crime due to addictions to those others drugs and receive MORE help than law abiding people who smoke or drink!!! Ho hum...

Answer 5

Even though nicotine is highly addictive...and don't I know it, if I don't have a *** I'm not inclined to go out and mug or murder someone, or break in someone's house or sell my body for a smoke. I've tried all kinds of methods to stop the craving and I'm still struggling. Hmm, seems the english description for ciggie, specifically a roll-up is a banned word!

Answer 6

Because not everyone wants to admit that it's a drug and people that don't smoke have no idea how truely addicting it is.

If I could find something that really works to quit smoking and stop the cravings completely, I'd do it. Thus far, nothing has worked.

Answer 7

Remember that not so long ago, smoking used to be a "status", even a "sexy-symbol"....

So it is being very hard to mark it as a Drug as well as the Alcohol, because due to the strength both habits have taken as socially accepted ones...

But you are right, as bad and as dangerous as any other drug, but socially accepted...

Answer 8

Smokers got slated then they moved to boozers.If everyone stopped drinking & smoking they would beg them to start again has there taxes would leave a huge dent in there pockets

Answer 9

if the government doesn't legalise smoking, hard core drugs will be in business then. though you have a valid point that the smokers are dependance of the nicotine contained in the cigerate but its a definetly much better than marijuana or heroine

Answer 10

smoking is the only addiction that turns your nice white walls yellow and makes everything in your wardrobe dirty. Guess who is married to a smoker? And yes he smokes a *** every 20 Min's. I hate it..