Why do people start smoking?

It's a nice topic to discuss. Psychologists says that those people who are longing for care and concern only start smoking and slowly fall victim to the addiction of tobaco in due course. And people who are living in cold regions are allowed to some extent for digestion purpose, but the business magnets - of the developed countries, conspire upon the under-developed and market it and keep people addicted. I feel this way.

I smoke since 11 years. I regret it. I started because all my friends that time were smoking. I can't believe how stupid I was to starting this addiction. I tried to quite many time but without good result. I would like to be free from this addiction. I think people smoke because they can.

Who is to say why people begin smoking, venkataraman_vc; it is difficult for me to wrap my mind around. I do not smoke and am deathly allergic to all smoke, so must avoid it whenever possible. I just do not know what motivates anyone to start; maybe peer pressure, curiousity, or addictive behavior disorder--who knows?

I am a smoker and don't have a problem with it. I like smoking. I enjoy smoking. I get to sit and relax and have a coffee and a smoke. I know smoking is very unhealthy though so I try to not smoke too much. I started smoking when I was 9 years old because I caught my older sisters smoking and so I couldn't tell on them and get them into trouble, they made me smoke also. Everytime they went for "a walk down the lane" I was dragged along with them a made to smoke, so I couldn't tell on them because if I did I was also in trouble because I was smoking too. By the time I was 12 years old I was babysitting for my mom's girlfriend and she knew I smoked so she paid me with smokes instead of money, which made me very happy, By then I was hooked on the nicotine and needed to smoke. I am now 54 years old so that tells you I have been smoking for a very long time. I have quit a few times but never for longer than 6 months at a time. I always end up back smoking again because I am a weak person and I am addicted and can't help myself. I love to smoke but at the same time I hate that I smoke. It is the hardest thing to quit and stay away from, even though I know it is hurting my health I can't seem to quit for good. Maybe one day!!

I also do not understand why people smoke. youngsters smoke due to influence of bad buddies and later get addicted to it. And it makes them hard to stopped once they've grown ups. It is harmful to health,but like I said,most of them were already addicted that it is very hard to get our from their system. jaiho®

Hi venkat,I think people start smoking because of there company or they influence by someone and want to try there habit.and 1 time smoke convert into habit,so i want to say never try bad thing 1 time only it is bad.and also dont try if any body force you to take single time.

I think there are various reasons as to why people start smoking. Some might start because they think it's cool. Others might start because of peer pressure. Some might even start because they see family members (such as their parents) doing it. But whatever the reason they start, it's always difficult for them to stop. I've lost a few family members who were smokers to lung cancer. Last I heard one of my living relatives has it now. Apparently he's not doing very well... Anyway, I'm very thankful I never took up this habit. Because it is a terrible one. Happy mylotting!

Most becase of peer pressure. They want to feel like they belong to the group and end up succumbing to friends and peers. They think it makes them look cool. That is unfortunate really.

Most people I know of either started as a teenager due to peer pressure / influences of peers to look cool like them. Or that they grew up in a household where the parents were smokers. We all know it's bad for you but for some it's too hard to quit after such a long time as their body needs this filthy habit to feel normal and I know this as I'm married to a smoker who's tried to quit many times w/o luck.

Actually, smoking does make you feel calmer. Caffeine has the same effect on me. I don't see why you think the weather should make a difference. Kids and teens smoke probably partially just because they aren't supposed to. They probably feel like they are not in control because their parents are too strict or not paying much attention at all to what their kid is doing. They do what they aren't supposed to to gain a sense of control and they like that it makes them feel high at first and later they like it because it makes them feel calm. Also, if a person is shy in social situations and gets anxious, then smoking will help them keep calm and it will give them something to do with their hands. I think this is why a lot of people text so much, sometimes people fake text.

Hi venkataraman! I know that smoking is bad for me, but I still continue to smoke. I stopped briefly with the help of the pill "Chantix" but ended up starting again. I now want to try it again and hopefully stop this time for good. It is really difficult to stop because Nicotine is so addictive. I wish I had never started, but it is too late to turn back the clock. All I can do is try really hard to stop and stay quit this time! Pray for me because my health depends on it!

I do not have clue as to why people start smoking. I have never understood it. Why oh why, do I light some paper on fire, and suck on it? Further... you stink terribly. You smell awful. How is stinking a 'neat thing to do' in the minds of some people? Finally... you work really hard to earn some money... and then... you burn it. You burn the money you earned while sucking on it. Is this not really stupid??? I work to hard to burn money. That's just dumb.

Yes I agree with you, People start smoking without any reason . for the first they think that it would be as a status symbol. then they cannot quit the smoking they adopted. they just get addicted to it. Even my dad is a smoker . i asked him to stop smoking but he cannot. Now there are many medicines released in the market, which will cause us to quit smoking. So, better we use these medicines. We must control smoking because it is not a status symbol but it is a monster which will reduce our lifespan. I advice people to stop smoking as there are more than 500,000 people around the world dying every year because of smoking. Also it will lead to several other side effects. So, stop smoking.

lets face the reality that most of people start smoking in their early age like 17-24 years old, just to look cool to their friend in college or in the hood, other people just smoke to try it to see what it is to smoke. there is no specific reason for that, just people think sometimes that smoking can help them forget their trouble which is not true at all.

I think many of them like to smoke for relaxation and some relief but i think it's dangerous to health and all human beings to having such a habit.

Decades ago, it was the "cool" thing to do. Nowadays it's a combination of stupidity and peer pressure.

I think one of the reason why people smokes is maybe one of their family members is a smoker.Also hanging out with friends who do smoke will encourage you to do the same.As you have said another is status symbol.Others thought too that when you smokes they think that you always have money even though to yourself it's not true. Well, I guess people are really curious even though they know it's bad effects but still they want to try.

I cannot comment on this for I also smoke quite a bit. But I can tell you how it began. While in my SSC, I started smoking trying to imitate my father and it seemed like I was doing something big. I was a bit naive and did not understand what it could lead to. I always felt that I could quit for it gave me no physical or mental pleasure. But one day when I tried to, I realized that not smoking for a longer period used to make me restless and disturb my concentration. Scientifically when the nictine content in the body reduces, the body which is used to it starts felling lethargic. The person habituated to it feels tires. When you smoke after that, the nicotine content increases and you start feeling active again. The same feeling continues even today. It actually does not relieve tension but just makes you believe that it has done so. Anyway I have tried to quit at least a dozen times. All I can say is all those non-smokers who are there, do not start it. It is not worth even a try.

I can see some young people smoking, and I wonder how did they start smoking in that young age ( 15 to 20 yrs)..! Of course i don't say that they need to start smoking in older age..! I think its because of their parents.., But those people may not be aware of it. Some people know that its bad for health, Still start smoking. I think their friends suggest them to smoke. or it could be like how you told a style...

I think the reason people start smoking is mostly psychological, since it's been considered something the "in" crowd does. Everyone wants to fit in, and feel wanted by others. It could also be that it's what the adults do, and most people want to feel mature and sophisticated. Last but not least, there's always peer pressure!