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Smoking and cancer: Why do people smoke?
People smoke for many different reasons. Firstly, smoking is very addictive. Secondly, smokers have been influenced by the clever marketing tactics of tobacco companies for many years. There are also many other personal reasons why people smoke.
Cigarettes contain nicotine - a highly addictive drug
If you smoke you are probably addicted to nicotine. Nicotine dependency is one of the main reasons why people continue to smoke. Smokers may find it hard to give up, even when their smoking makes them very sick.
Nicotine is a stimulant that increases your heart rate and affects many different parts of your brain and body. Nicotine withdrawal symptoms include cravings, irritability, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, restlessness and disturbed sleep.
Cigarettes are deliberately designed to give you a fast nicotine hit. It takes just 10 seconds for the drug to reach your brain from inhaled cigarette smoke.
Tobacco advertising and promotion
Half of smokers die from smoking related diseases. The tobacco industry needs new customers to replace the 114,000 people who are killed by smoking in the UK each year. Cigarette manufacturers make sure that:
- they know exactly why people smoke
- they cleverly market products to attract new customers.
In the past cigarette manufacturers have deliberately targeted children and young people. The industry spends a great deal of money on making cigarettes seem glamorous, appealing, fashionable and attractive. Most smokers started when they were young and image conscious. Young smokers often find it difficult to give up in later life.
Cigarette advertising is now banned in the UK. So the industry is developing new and subtle tactics to avoid prosecution.
Stress and relaxation
Many people claim that smoking helps them to cope with stress. But in fact, nicotine is a stimulant and won’t help you to relax. Smokers probably think a cigarette makes them feel better because when they aren’t smoking they suffer from nicotine withdrawal.
Other personal reasons for smoking
People have many other personal reasons for smoking. Smokers may:
- use smoking as a support for when things go wrong
- enjoy smoking with others as a shared activity
- use smoking to start conversations and meet new people
- smoke to make themselves look more confident and in control
- think that cigarettes help them to keep their weight down
- have a cigarette when they’re feeling bored or lonely
- smoke when they need a break or a moment to themselves.
Knowing why you smoke is one of the first steps towards giving up.
Get sponsored to quit smoking
Encourage your friends and family to support you in your attempt to quit smoking by sponsoring you.
