Tobacco companies had to own up to the fact that smoking is harmful in the 1960s when undeniable evidence came out. People struggled to quit because it is somewhat addictive, but mainly because they enjoyed it.

Those companies then encouraged the rhetoric about it being more addictive than heroin. It isn’t. In my experience it’s less addictive than caffeine.

Here’s my history with nicotine:

  • Smoked cigarettes from 15 - 26.
  • Quit totally for 14 months
  • My friend who smoked moved back to town and I smoked when I was with them.
  • Switched to vaping 8 years ago.
  • Quit vaping in January this year (2024).

I bought 30 cigars at the start of last month (April 2024) and have smoked 9 of them so far. I normally just have 1 a week if I’m having a beer at home but I went out drinking 2 nights in a row at the start of this month and smoked 6 over that weekend.

Am I addicted? Maybe, but I haven’t had any nicotine this week and don’t plan on having any next week either.

    • RedditWanderer@lemmy.world
      4·
      7 months ago

      Personally I was always told quitting was worse than quitting heroin. And when I quit because I wanted to “feel better”, I just did without any of the crazy symptoms they told me about. I think what he is trying to say is craving cigarettes/smoking is not the same as Nicotine addiction.

      I thought I would have to crave cigarettes for the rest of my life, and that simply isn’t true. (I was a very heavy smoker).

      • folkrav
        5·
        7 months ago

        Interesting. It’s been like 7-8 years here and I still crave them once in a while, especially in stressful situations. Not the sweats and the likes that I got in the first couple of days, obviously, but I kind of accepted at this point that “cigarette = relaxing” is just how my brain connects the dots, and it’s up to me to rationalize.

        • Aggravationstation@feddit.ukOP
          2·
          7 months ago

          The relaxation element of cigarettes is partly that you have to go and be yourself in the quiet but mainly because you’re stopping and taking a deep breath. Try some breathing exercises and try to associate that with relaxation.

          • folkrav
            1·
            7 months ago

            I never really managed to do these things outside really controlled environments, like laying down in bed as I fall asleep. My inner voice/chatter just doesn’t stop going off unless I’m too tired for it apparently lol. It’s easier if I’m medicated obviously, but then I feel like I need it a lot less often.

      • Aggravationstation@feddit.ukOP
        2·
        7 months ago

        I thought I would have to crave cigarettes for the rest of my life, and that simply isn’t true.

        This is what I was trying to get at.

        I also smoked weed most days for about 15 years then quit due to starting a job that drug tests and had no ill effects. I thought this would be more common but reading what people are saying here there are a lot of individuals who have problems quitting even weed which is far less habit forming than nicotine.

        • RedditWanderer@lemmy.world
          1·
          7 months ago

          The problem with weed is it absolutely wrecks sleep for people. Without the high, people don’t fall into deep sleep and end up having vivid nightmares. It can take weeks or months for your brain to adjust.

          Lots of people have trouble quitting cigarettes, but they aren’t having nicotine symptoms.