Why Do People Start Smoking?

By Jim Newell

Throughout the history of the tobacco companies they have marketed their products with well thought out campaigns utilizing all of the media, including print media, the movies, television and musicians. The images of Hollywood stars and musicians smoking have had an influence on people’s decisions to start smoking. People, and especially young people, see these images, and imagine how cool they would look if they smoked.

There are other reasons people start smoking, but more often than not, it is because of the image that is created in their minds through the use of these clever advertising campaigns. They see it in the movies, on television, at concerts, etc.

In some parts of the world smoking is viewed as a “rite of passage“. Seeing third world youngsters smoking, some of them 10 years and younger, is not unusual.

Most people get started smoking with their first cigarettes given to them by older friends or family members. Part of the reason they smoke is to be a part of the crowd that they admire or people they aspire to emulate. Many times their peers encourage them to start, and even show them how it is done, even how to do things such as blowing smoke rings, etc.

It is about image more than anything else as most people would agree that the first cigarette is certainly not pleasant. If food tasted that bad most of us would never eat again. It becomes a challenge to overcome the coughing, burning throat, the choking, the burning of the eyes. If something is seen to be cool or fashionable then there will be many people who will do it simply to be accepted by their peers.

The majority of people find that smoking tastes bad and makes them feel bad until they become accustomed to the taste then those feelings disappear. By that time they have started to become addicted to the tobacco and nicotine and a new problem presents itself.

Statistics show that the majority of people who smoke wish they had never started, if only they could wind back the clock they would certainly never have started. They fool themselves into thinking that they can quit any time they want. After a few tries at quitting they buy into the notions that quitting is too hard, they do not have the will power, smoking is really not as bad as people say. They begin to justify their habit with comments like;

• I really enjoy smoking,
• It relaxes me,
• It keeps me thin.
• I can quit any time I want.

After a very short time the addictive nature of tobacco and nicotine start to control the smoking habit, which makes so many people continue to smoke long after they realize the many ways it is affecting their health. Knowing that they are shortening their life is generally not enough incentive to quit.

Fortunately the message about the real dangers that smoking brings to the smokers health and longevity and it is becoming a more unacceptable practice and not seen as fashionable in many areas of society.

It is becoming harder to find places where it is even legal to smoke, the sight of smokers huddled outside of workplaces and many public places, even in bad weather, is becoming more common.

Many states have in recent years passed legislation to raise the taxes on tobacco products to very high levels, while this is not a very effective way to convince people to quit, it is having some impact.