Why do people start smoking?

Question

This isnt "Why wont people quit" but why start in the first place???

Smoking is NOT cool

Answer 1

because it's cool

Answer 2

Heres an answer other than the 'to be cool' one thats true, because it happened to me.

When I was a kid (ages 7 - 11 or so) I always hated the fact that my parents smoked. My dad quit when the state raised the taxes, but my mom never did. I would always bug her about quitting, and she did try a few times. Basically I was well aware of the risks, and knew how hard it was to quit. Eventually, though, curiosity got the better of me and I decided to try one of my moms. I didn't even really like it that much, and none of my friends smoked (I went to a catholic school all the way, only knew like 2 or 3 smokers from my high school) so I didn't do it that much. I did continue to do it though, mostly for the buzz.

It started out once a weekend or so, nobody knew about it. I just gradually started doing it more often. Then when I started drinking, I didn't really even care any more and just smoked them when I was drunk, and let my friends know (which was pretty much every night, rediculous for a freshman in highschool, but I kicked the habit before it got me in any real trouble).

I ended up getting some of my friends hooked now, too. The ones I mentioned that I knew who smoked earlier. Now I'm 18,, and I've made a few attempts at quitting. It's so hard, and its frustrating :(

I do enjoy it at the same time though.

Answer 3

Peer pressure, mostly. It used to be viewed as "cool" and all the really "grown up" groups in high school were being bad and smoking in the boys' room. Stuff like that. TV commercials with actors dressed as doctors used to recommend it for your health, to help you relax. In fact, TV ad saturation over smoking was so effective that to this day, many people can still remember the commercial jingles, like "I'd rather fight than switch" or "a silly millimeter longer" or "Winston tastes good like a cigarette should." So it was either join the J.D.s or be a wuss.

Less and less people start smoking now because it is not viewed as being "cool" anymore and Humphrey Bogart is dead.

Answer 4

good question no not really.They start usually to see what its like. Thats not what bothers me though. Its that the live above influence give more than enough details y not to smoke. But people still smoke. So why do they go to the extreme to make people stop smoking when they alrdy know what it does, its called free will and they just cant accept that.
one thing it takes more than one cigerate to get u addictive. If its really that hard for u to quit it just shows u have a weak will or have been smoking too long.
ps. im not a smoker.

Answer 5

people used to be told to smoke for their nerves. it was positively encourage during the war, and navy personnel were given a tobacco allowance as part of their pay.

All that was a long time ago. Recently people start smoking so they can smoke a spliff, some do it to make themselves look older or 'cool' and romantic, if you've ever seen some of the films of the 1940's like some Bette Davies films you'd know

Answer 6

I started smoking many years ago at the age of 12. People were very unaware of the dangers of smoking and different brands of cigarettes were advertised everywhere. Both of my parents smoked and I can remember at a very young age, being allowed to try my dad's cigarette. Young people were catered for and you could walk into a newsagent/tobacconist and buy a single cigarette. Many brands had collectible cards in the packets which made them even more attractive. I started smoking because I really didn't know any different and so many of my peers were the same. Years later, I went to college with a lady from the same age group, who told me it had always been her ambition to be addicted to cigarettes because she thought it was glamorous. She longed to get to the point of being 'desperate for a ***' but fortunately for her, she never did and was able to stop easily.

Answer 7

The main reason people START is peer pressure. They see all their friends doing it, and think that if they do it too, they'll be cool. Once they start, they can't quit. Some people smoke to ease their nerves. The nicotine relaxes them. Whatever the reason, quitting would be the best thing for them all.

Answer 8

Because they are idiots! Smoking increases risk of getting lung cancer and mouth cancer, and is directly related to chronic bronchitis, emphysema This can result in increasing breathlessness and sometimes the coughing up of sputum. Another important effect is coronary artery disease which has been proved as the most common cause of death in middle aged males. As well as effects on the coronary arteries, smoking damages arteries that supply other parts of the body. It can seriously affect arteries of the legs causing peripheral vascular disease which in severe cases may necessitate amputation of a leg.The arteries of the brain can also be affected, and resultant damage may cause a stroke.
So it is not really very cool is it?

Answer 9

#1. They are upset or stressed about something so they are trying to relieve their stress by smoking (its good to try to talk to them and help solve their problems, make them feel better)
#2. Acting 'cool' (to impress other people like friends)
#3. Getting threatened (Like getting told that they would beat you up if you don't join in their smoking-crew, black mailing etc..)
#4. Persuation
#5. Because they are simply bored of living a boring life and want to start something new.
#6. Wanted to know what it was like smoking and how it tasted like.
#7. Copying admirers (e.g. celebrities, friends, family who smoke)
#8. They don't know that smoking kills
#9. Because they want to live a short life

But once they get addicted, they find it hard to stop and loads of people regret smoking. Stopping isn't impossible though.

Answer 10

In my day the vast majority of the population smoked, it was the done thing, there was even an ad on TV where the doctor gave his patient a cig in the surgery "to help calm his nerves!"
I guess it was to be cool, all the major actors and actresses of the day smoked!

Answer 11

Some YOUNG people can't imagine how stupid they are for even trying the first one nowadays. I am not saying how stupid they look, I mean how stupid they are.

When I see a young person smoking I do ask them why. It is a thing of the past like bloomers and potbelly stoves. It is almost equal to sipping the blood of someone with hepatitis C or tuberculosis. I agree with you 100%.