Smoking - did you? Do you? What are your thoughts on smoking..?

[MorningHood]

Inspired by another thread about smoking around a baby.. I’m curious what people think of smoking in society these days?

Were you a smoker or have you never smoked? Did your parents/close family smoke around you growing up? Do they still smoke? Have you lost family members as a direct result?

Personally I smoked from mid teens till early 20’s, mainly socially, but daily and was definitely addicted. Although it was around 5-10 per day unless I was on a ‘big night out’ where it was more like 20+! I gave up for 2 years in my mid 20’s and then foolishly started again when I was late 20’s, again socially and this went on/off till I was early 30’s when I quit for good.

Both my parents / step-parents smoke(d) and I lost one parent to COPD in their early 60’s. Other parent and partner both smoke and are SO adamant about never stopping to the point it’s caused family arguments as one of them clearly has some breathing issues. They are very good about not smoking around grandchildren and don’t smoke inside the house though (anymore).

I find smoking just utterly detestable now, it truly stinks and it’s hard to get the smell out of fabrics etc. It’s also outrageously expensive.

Smoked 10 a day from age 14 to 37. I quit many times over that period and near the end smoked lights and menthols. I can't tell you what the trigger to finally quit was but I'm so glad I did. Been an ex smoker for 6yrs. I wish I'd never even started, such a waste of money and health and in hindsight, it seems like such a stupid habit to have. There's not one single positive thing about it. Smoking seems rare now, thankfully. I support the use of vapes to quit, they definitely helped me but not vaped in over 3yrs.

Same here. My sister and I have never smoked but grew up with dyed in the wool smokers who smoked absolutely everywhere.

I remember having to sit in the smoking areas of restaurants, pubs, planes, and in the car (usually without even opening the window). Horrendous. Thankfully smoking is now outlawed in those places (including in cars I believe, if children are on board).

My Dad, who was in his eighties, died three years ago from bilateral pneumonia resulting from a worsening of his COPD (which is much more common amongst smokers than nonsmokers).

My mother is 89. She also has COPD and greatly reduced mobility now. She smoked 40+ cigarettes a day until just over 18 months ago when a severe bout of pneumonia almost killed her and had her in hospital over Christmas. She was still very stubborn about giving up smoking, but we did get her onto vapes (refused to help her buy cigarettes, only vapes).

Vapes were the only way forward for us in order to keep her away from cigarettes. Somewhat controversial in themselves, but infinitely preferable to the thick cloud of smoke that always used to follow her around. Far easier and more pleasant to be in a room with her.

I keep thinking about this: I was basically smoking from the moment of my conception, as my father was a massive chainsmoker. I took up smoking at around 12 or 13, and was a pack and a half a day smoker in my twenties, until I finally quit in my early thirties.

They say your lungs recover, but even so... That's more than 30 years. I don't think people realise how much passive smoking kids do.

The smell on others makes me nauseous now, and even brief exposure to some knob lighting up near me brings on asthma.

My entire family smoked so the writing was on the wall for me unfortunately. Thick heavy clouds of smoke in every house and on every car journey!
My mum also smoked throughout pregnancy as apparently didn't know any better 🙄

Anyway I smoked from age 15-30 then started vaping. Gave that up in pregnancy and then came back to it and I still vape unfortunately. I just can't seem to kick the habit.

God it’s sad how many of us grew up in smog filled homes. So glad my kids won’t ever has to experience that.

My in-laws are extremely heavy smokers too, they are so bad they light the next one from the embers of the previous one!

Funny this came up as am currently on annual leave, away with family and have identified that am smoking far less here than normal.

I smoked from very far too young right up until pregnancy (aged39). Then took it up again during lockdown as I was barely finding time to eat and was super stressed (SEN child at home and parent undergoing cancer treatment) then.

In recent months, if being honest, I routinely smoke 20 a day.
Sad and shameful fact here is that I enjoy smoking and very much use it as a crux or coping method. I have responded to no less than three GP surgery texts for smoking cessation clinics but never heard back. In any other event I would have chased appointments such as this, but am so rubbish at giving up (multiple failed attempts) I simply haven't done so.
The odd thing us, I never smoke amongst friends associated with work or my child's school, none of them are aware I do smoke. On the rare office days I do I just don't smoke as am busy/aware of being judged.
In essence I like the idea of being a non-smoker, nbut acknowledge this day is unlikely.
I cam stick at literally anything else-why not this? I have no idea 🤷

Both my parents smoked so I suppose it was inevitable that I started. My Dh also smoked and we continued for a few years then just gave up-probably helped when the dog got cancer and we felt awful, although it was spinal and the specialist said it was related, but how could he know really? We just gave up cold turkey. I was amazed at how easy it was. I donated my last pack to a mate.

Now I’m appalled that people still smoke-none so pure, hey?! It stinks, I hate it, drives me nuts that people light up straight out of the supermarket, like sod off elsewhere! My mum still smokes, her house STINKS, it’s disgusting. She gave me two items of clothing last week and despite her never having smoked upstairs, they reeked.

I’m from a family of smokers, it’s normal life for me and I smoke 20 a day. I do enjoy it, love it in fact, but it’s so expensive. For my generation I can understand it. However when I see my sisters daughters smoking aged 14 and 16, it somehow looks out of place for their generation. It’s bizarre / sad seeing them running abut with their friends in the park, or their cousins, and then they come over to sit and have a cigarette, then go back to the others.

I smoked from teens until 27, I stopped when I wanted to try for a baby. I was a heavy smoker, I could nearly get through 20 a day and more if on a night out. I did enjoy smoking but knew it’s not something I would ever want to do with children. My dad, aunt and grandma smoked all my life growing up, my dad quit when I was around 20, my grandma still smokes to this day but we live in different countries now. On stressful days I do still think about having a cigarette, if I could buy them individually I think I definitely would have but paying £15+ for a pack puts me off.