How come people who are exposed to second hand smoke, dont become addicted to cigarettes? See details?

Question

Ok, as a kid, my parents both smoked about a pack a day IN THE HOUSE. Gross and inconsiderate, I know. I got to thinking, I was exposed to TONS of both filtered and unfiltered smoke, and yet, I have NEVER ever smoked a cigarette. Why didnt I get addicted to cigarette smoke? I was exposed to the filtered stuff they blew out AND the unfiltered smoke from the buring cigarette? If cigarettes are so addictive, why arent i hooked on them?

By the way, I am no longer around smokers at all. I'm a married mom, and we dont smoke and few of our friends smoke, and never around us. So I know I dont crave the smoke, cuz I've been fine without it for years. If I do get a whiff, my mind associates the smell with my childhood, nothing more

Is it possible that not just the chemicals in cigarettes are addictive, but also the ACT of smoking?

Answer 1

You are smarter than they are & were! YOU Knew better than to smoke.

You didn't inhale the worst part the NICOTINE. That is what gets people hooked on smoking.

Answer 2

Good question. Second-hand smoke smoke, the sidestream smoke, contains more tar and nicotine than what the smoker is inhaling, contrary to what one person above me thinks. Maybe it has something to do with the oral part of holding a cigarette in the mouth.

Answer 3

Maybe you were and didn't realize it because you seemed to be around smoke all of the time. But be aware, it seems that it's always the second hand smoke that kills non-smokers. I don't know your age, but I would really think about getting a check up. My aunt passed away with lung cancer and never smoked. But she worked in a bar - second hand smoke was the reason.