Who are the smokers here?

Growing up, it was just Mom and I. She was (and is) a very passionate and non-repentant smoker. She pretty much had a cigarette going all the time, as far back as I can remember. She occasionally had friends over, for coffee, and of course, cigarettes. She didn't date that much, but when she did, he was always a smoker. By the time I was 8, I assumed that smoking was typical adult behavior, and that I too, would smoke one day. I finally got the nerve to try it when I was 12; I asked Mom if I could try it, and she obliged. After being a second-hand smoker since I was born, “smoking my own” agreed with me immediately. And I am not above admitting that I not only liked it far more than I thought I would, but also that I very much underestimated the powerful addiction which would quickly follow, as well as withdrawal symptoms when I couldn't smoke, which can be very intense, and unforgiving in nature. I’ll even admit that I’m an addict — using the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence on Cigarettes, I score an 8 (on a scale of 1 to 10).

I am an ex smoker. But I remember the misery of smoking so well, that every time I see someone smoking I feel for them, in much the same way as I feel for a severely disabled person.

Only smokers really know how much it ruins your life.

I smoked for 25 yrs. Got asthma and COPD and was told if I didn't quit I'd die. I smoked one here and there during high stress times. Then I went to those ecigs and vapes. Finally had what I think might have been COVID in Mar of 2020 and I've not touched a thing since. Mind you those rare ones were only a handful and they were only one. Haven't actually been a smoker since I wanna say 2009?

No, I don't smoke. Although my mother was a heavy smoker. She perpetually had a fag in her mouth. The next door neighbours smoked. The stars on TV - including Freddie Mercury and George Michael - smoked. My aunt smoked. My dad smoked until his uncle died from lung cancer when my dad was young. My Nan smoked until she got TB. The kids at school smoked. The list goes on.

Anyhow, it is just something I never picked up. I don't know why. Maybe in a few years time I would light up: but now I'm in my 40's there's not much point. If I wanted to smoke, I should've started years ago.

Someone tell the wildfires here that it's no longer cool in Canada to smoke!

My dad started smoking when he was 9 yrs old (!) so I grew up with it at home, but was never interested. He even told me one time never to start. He finally quit before major surgery about 19 years ago, so my parents' place has smelled much better ever since!

I spend enough money on books, no point in getting addicted to something else.

I've smoked since I was 12.

I vape as well in order to try and keep the real smoking to a minimum, although I must say that working from home has definitely increased my smoking over the lockdown period.

I must have quit smoking a hundred times, but only for a day or two...a week, tops. I quit for 4.5 years after smoking for 7 years. Then, at some later time, I quit for 6 months. Finally, 13.5 years later, at the end of 2009/beginning of 2010, I quit for good. The difference this time being that I know I can't fool myself into thinking I will have "just one." "Just one" turned into two the next day...by the end of the week, I would be up to half pack/day! It also helps when my partner has never smoked.

My OH smoked since he was 15. He tried all sorts including hypnotherapy which he kept up for 6 months.
But he always got dragged back in. One time was at a Christmas dinner he had been stopped for about 3 months and then at the dinner all the men had cigars (sexist ) and he was pushed .I said stop it hes given up and was shouted down by his stupid collegues. He accepted it just to keep things calm and that was that..

Then in 2013 one June morning he suddenly said Im not smoking anymore. He hasnt touched one since.

My son vapes.. He knows its not ideal but he realised that what he really wanted was that first hit of the cigarette , so by vaping he takes only one draw on it. That way he is using less than 2 cigarettes per day..

I have never smoked. I never even tried.