What on Earth can I do with 460 cigarettes?

[wineoclockthanks]

They were my Mum's.

I think they're worth about about £250 so don't really want to just throw them away. I honestly don't know anyone who smokes. I've asked local women's refuge and food bank and they don't want them. Although they were bought in UK (and so have had tax paid on them), I don't know where to sell them.

I don't want to make a profit from them as my Mum died from a smoking related illness, so anything I do make I'd donate to Cancer Research or similar, but just don't have a clue what to do.

Any suggestions?

I realise that but if I'm trying to quit it's not helpful to have something tempting waved in front of my facr

more accurate details
www.hotbincomposting.com/blog/can-cigarettes-cigarette-butts-be-composted.html

I'm interested that you think the main problem for any of these people will be trying to stop smoking. Homeless people are not just people who live outside you know. They usually have severe mental and very often addiction problems. Your idea that they will be trying to stop smoking is seriously naive.

If you're a smoker, the temptation is there all the time, especially if you're on the streets where it's likely smokers might be walking past you so you can smell the smoke. It's a physical urge, the craving for nicotine.

I would put a couple of packs in my bag whenever I went out into town or areas where you see homeless or people begging. Just pass them a pack or 2 when you see them.

So wasteful binning them. And it feels quite self righteous to withhold a possible gift to someone who is struggling and would really appreciate a gift like that.

I didn't say that. At all.

I said that whoever the op gave them to might be cutting down. That could include homeless people. Or anyone. Their sleeping outside or not doesn't actually factor into my sentence.

It feels like this thread has become one upmanship to show how little I know about homeless people. I've made the point several times thay I don't think they should be given to anyone. I'm getting a bit tired of it tbh.

I’d sell them for the best price you can on Fb selling sites then donate the money to a lung cancer charity.

The people who buy them would have just bought others/smoked others anyway so at least that way the charity benefit rather than big companies

Like I said, if you are 'cutting down' (which is not generally a very successful venture whether you are homeless or not) it's much easier to do it using proper, pre-packaged cigarettes.

Both of my lovely aunts died from smoking related disease, but I would still say give them to a homeless shelter and if the reception there doesn't accept them, just leave them outside the door. If I was a homeless smoker, with little comfort to get me through the day (most of us have our coffee habits, glass of wine in the evening, Pilates class etc), I would be so grateful for free cigarettes.
Sorry about your mum OP.

That's great. So presumably the NHS give out fags to people who are quitting?

" Homeless people are not just people who live outside you know."
Do you know what, this patronising shit has really fucked me off. I'm out.

The NHS will prescribe nicotine-containing products to people who want to quit.

Yes. Cigarettes?

No - in the same way they prescribe methadone rather than heroin, it's a substitute.

Nope. Didn't think so.

Coming off heroin immediately is dangerous.

No it's not. Alcohol withdrawal can kill you. Heroin withdrawal is unpleasant but not fatal (underlying conditions blah blah).

I have worked with homeless people. The vast majority have addiction issues as well as mental health problems. The people I knew who slept rough was because they'd been kicked out of all the local hostels for doing drugs on the premises. The biggest risks to health for the people I knew were dodgy gear, infected injection sites and dealers coming to settle debts.

They will still smoke whether they are given a pack or 2 but it might make an awful time in their life slightly less awful as it's one thing less to worry about sourcing.

OK I didn't know that. Thanks. I don't actually have much knowledge about drugs. Tbh my points mostly haven't been about homeless people or drug users. It hasn't stopped people making thay assumption and correcting me.

I'm not having a go @StealthPolarBear

I know it can feel that way when there's a lot of people disagreeing. I think you have valid points, just don't agree

I didn't want to start an argument and it's something that I have been struggling with for a while. We've just had the anniversary of Mum passing and I still don't know what the right thing to do is.

I really appreciate everyone's point of view but am torn because, I feel throwing them away is probably the right course of action but I know damn well if I could ask Mum, she'd disagree and say give them to someone who will enjoy them.

She knew smoking was bad for her and how much we hated her smoking but always said she was an adult and had the right to make her own decisions, be they right or wrong.

And I would still like some good to come out of it all. (Maybe I am being naive in that).

The NHS doesn't support 'cutting down' (nor would any seasoned smoker try to quit by cutting down, thus I think it unlikely that giving out cigarettes would be disrupting such plans). The only way to quit is to come off them completely, with or without nicotine replacement.

It’s been an interesting debate.

Made me think.

You are also an adult with the right to make your own decisions remember.

I don't think we should give cigarettes to people. I count homeless people as people. Even though they may not just be people who sleep outside - WTF. That is the end of my argument.