Smoking is highly addictive due to nicotine and kills more people than any disease. Tobacco advertising, psychological dependence, and social pressure also contribute to smoking.
Smoking is one of the hardest addictions to break. Scientists estimate that cigarettes are more addictive than cocaine, heroin or alcohol. According to the World Health Organization, smoking kills more people than any disease in the world. With all this information readily available, why do people still smoke?
Most people who smoke do it because they can’t quit. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance that makes people feel energetic and alert. Smokers rush after a cigarette, and quitting produces withdrawal symptoms that include difficulty sleeping and cravings. Seventy percent of people who quit smoking eventually start again.
Tobacco advertising also has a big influence on why people smoke. For years, the industry has focused on making smoking glamorous through advertising in film, television, and billboards. While cigarette advertising is now controlled, its influence can still be felt in the form of free samples, smoking comics, and the promise of interesting merchandise that can be obtained in exchange for coupons printed on cigarette packs. Many people claim that smoking keeps them slim, but the truth is that smoking reduces the sense of taste, so many people who smoke simply eat less because they don’t like food as much.
Smoking also produces psychological dependence. Many people smoke because it helps them relax and deal with difficult situations, or because it gives them confidence. Others smoke when bored. Smoking produces a feeling of satisfaction that is hard to give up. Finally, people who smoke are usually in denial: they know that smoking is bad, but they convince themselves that it’s simply “not as bad as they say.”
Smoking is also a social activity. Many people who smoke do it to start conversations and interact at parties or in crowded places. This is known as “social smoking” and usually involves alcohol as a complement.
Many teenagers start smoking due to peer pressure. They may also smoke to feel more mature or as a form of rebellion against parental authority. It has been shown that children are also more likely to smoke if their parents do.
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