Smoking is... good?

[Lauranimal]

Re: FSC Fire-Safe Cigarettes

Puck... thank you for looking into and sharing that info on AS. I just picked up some American Spirits a couple of days ago. Determined to get off of the chemicals. Every time I smoke one, I feel pissed off. LOL! I guess I'm detoxing from the chemicals. Just not satisfied. As tempting and easy as it would be to go out and get a pack of the regular ciggs, I'm determined to stay the course. All changes take getting used to. I can do this. Not like I'm actually quitting.

 

[Gaby]

It is super over confirmed now...

Longtime smoking cuts Parkinson’s risk dramatically

_http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/03/10/longtime-smoking-cuts-parkinson%E2%80%99s-risk-dramatically/?hpt=T2

By Matt Sloane
CNN Medical Producer

It's a catchy headline – smoking cuts Parkinson's risk dramatically – and it appears to be true, but researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Science don't want you to start smoking.

"Nobody should advocate smoking to prevent Parkinson's disease," said Dr. Honglei Chen, a tenure-track investigator at the Institute. "It’s important to make that very, very clear."

The study, released today in the journal Neurology looked at the lifetime smoking history of more than 300,000 people, and confirmed the inverse relationship between smoking and Parkinson's disease, established in earlier scientific studies. But, researchers say they've found a critical new piece to the puzzle: It appears to be the length of time one has been a smoker – not the number of cigarettes smoked – that has the most effect on disease risk reduction.

"People who smoked more than 40 years had a 46 percent decrease in Parkinson's disease risk," said Chen. "Whereas people who smoked between one and nine years had only an 8 percent decrease in risk."

...

I edited the Big Pharma and propaganda stuff, couldn't stand it

 

[dant]

[If this topic has been discussed elsewhere, can
someone please point me to the relevant link(s)
that specifically discusses 'nicotine addiction' and
what it really means?]

The question is:

1) Is nicotine by itself [not/mildly/strongly] addictive?
2) If true, is nicotine addiction problematic in and of itself?

Addiction seems to be a hot-button issue for some
people and I was wondering why that it is? There
seems to be tons of research papers on this topic
alone...

Seem to me that nicotine "addiction" might be used as
diversionary tactic as if to draw attention away from the
benefits of nicotine and in no way can be compared against
hard-core drugs? I think of addiction as a chemical dependency
and causes withdrawal issues, right?

Here is one such scientific paper:
_http://neuro.bcm.edu/_web/danilab/files/neuron31.pdf

Just wondering,
Dan

 

[Gaby]

[If this topic has been discussed elsewhere, can
someone please point me to the relevant link(s)
that specifically discusses 'nicotine addiction' and
what it really means?]

The question is:

1) Is nicotine by itself [not/mildly/strongly] addictive?
2) If true, is nicotine addiction problematic in and of itself?

Addiction seems to be a hot-button issue for some
people and I was wondering why that it is? There
seems to be tons of research papers on this topic
alone...

Seem to me that nicotine "addiction" might be used as
diversionary tactic as if to draw attention away from the
benefits of nicotine and in no way can be compared against
hard-core drugs?

Nicotine is referred as very addictive. But what it does is that it reaches your brain very easy when inhaled and smokers have more nicotinic receptors as a result of smoking. Why will that be bad? There are numerous positive effects about this. If you quit smoking and you have all those extra receptors that will now receive less nicotine, then it is natural that there will be some adjustment period until your body cuts down on receptors so to speak. But look here at the potential therapeutic possibilities of nicotine:

From http://www.science.smith.edu/departments/Biochem/Chm_357/presentations/nicotine.ppt:

Therapeutic possibilities of nicotine include cognitive dysfunction and attention disorders, neurodegenerative disorders (Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease), pain, schizophrenia, depression, epilepsy, Tourette's syndrome, ADHD, anxiety, vestibular function, gastric disorders.

And how will these people with this conditions be classified? As nicotine addictive or as in needing nicotine to balance their brain chemistry. The label is not fair, osit.

 

[dant]

Interesting power-point slides and some of the pictures are
humorous! Some of these pictures seem extreme, as if going
beyond 'moderation' ('C's suggested moderation) like the guy
smoking over "1,000" cigarettes through a funnel with a "flame
thrower" to light up? That could cause some imbalances! :P

Could those who do not have these "imbalances" as outlined
in the PP, could still gain benefits by having extra receptors,
"relaxation" controls, better cognitive abilities, or perhaps,
simply used as a preventive measure?

It is also interesting that when I posted this yesterday, the following
article appeared on SOTT:

http://www.sott.net/articles/show/204531-Study-Nicotine-Takes-Time-to-Accumulate-in-Brain

In the above article, it seems to imply that Nicotine `addiction' is not
fully understood and yet there are some research papers implying
'addiction' is bad? Seems unbalanced to me! :P

So, light up & thanks Psyche!
Dan

 

[Gaby]

Interesting power-point slides and some of the pictures are
humorous!

Oops, I missed the pictures, I hope they were not offensive :)

Could those who do not have these "imbalances" as outlined
in the PP, could still gain benefits by having extra receptors,
"relaxation" controls, better cognitive abilities, or perhaps,
simply used as a preventive measure?

It seems like all of the above. And it least for Parkinson's, the length of time played a key role for preventive measures.

 

[abstract]

In the above article, it seems to imply that Nicotine `addiction' is not
fully understood and yet there are some research papers implying
'addiction' is bad? Seems unbalanced to me!

from my own research I have determined that nicotine can hardly be classified as a "drug" and not able to be classified as "addictive."

Is garlic a drug? What about vitamin C? What is the definition of "drug" and "addiction"? who defines that?

I mean look, europeans used to think potatoes were poisonus. Are they? Not anymore than anything else.

Let me ask something: Those of you on your diets, do you have a bad day when you don't get your supplements or your detox shake or whatever? Does it make you feel good when

you take vitamins? Do you take vitamins over and over again, every day? According to some people, you should be treated for vitamin addiction right away, no kidding. Go to rehab

you freakin' junkies, no more vitamin C for you! By this time you've probably realized my point.


Nicotine use is habitual. HAB-IT-U-AL. It means that it's something you do everyday, and in this case it's because

of the sense of well being created by using it.

Is it hard to break a habit? YES. ANY HABIT IS HARD TO BREAK, THAT'S WHY THEY ARE HABITS!!

But when does habit become addiction? WHEN IT INTERFERES WITH YOU FUNCTIONING ON AN EVERY DAY BASIS.

Does the world fall apart because i take a smoke break at work? nope.

I can wait a long time for a smoke if i have to, the same way you can wait to get a glass of water if you're busy.

After your first cigarette, did you want another one right away? of course not.

I mean your VERY FIRST cigarette...did you want another one after that? probably not.

Now, crack on the other hand...after your first hit you WILL want more. It physiologically makes you want cocaine.

See the difference? DO YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE?

As far as i'm concerned I look at tobacco the same way i do garlic and oregano and essential oils and vitamins.

Just another thing. The reason some people think they're "addicted" is because they have been psychologically programmed

to believe it.

 

[Nathan]

I mean look, europeans used to think potatoes were poisonus. Are they? Not anymore than anything else.

Potatoes are part of the nightshade family, which are troublesome for a large amount of people. Tomatoes, capsicum and eggplant are others.

That aside, you've come across some really interesting data. I always suspected nicotine was not an addictive substance. Can't wait to see the fruits of your labour, abstract!

 

[pete02]

Just another thing. The reason some people think they're "addicted" is because they have been psychologically programmed to believe it.

Absolutely! I can remember back in my youth when I 'needed' a smoke asap and now that I've quit and come back a few times, I realize that there is no addiction to smoking. I completely control when I smoke and feel no physical symptoms whatsoever if I choose not to. I can agree with you that a lot of it is definitely outside influence making people think something thats not really there.

 

[3DStudent]

I just tried my first cigarettes today. I received the American Spirit coupons by registering and used them to get some organics and menthols.

When I first lit one up I smoked it like a cigar and just had a mouthful of smoke :P. I have only smoked cigars and a pipe and never inhaled, so it took me a while to get used to it. The organic was quite harsh on my throat, but the menthol tasted nice. When I exhale and get the smoke in my eyes it burns, is this the same for everyone?

I also broke my first one in half because I was in my car and opening the ash tray before lighting and it hit the gear shift and severed. I wonder if that was anything symbolic. I uttered something mechanically as I did this too even though they were mostly free . I was surprised at the length of time to smoke a cigarette, it seems only to be 5-8 puffs. I guess I'm used to cigars, which are too long to me.

My sister and dad didn't like the idea of me smoking cigarettes in the house. My dad especially said he didn't want me to smoke them inside. But I smoked my pipe in my room a few weeks ago and noone noticed. A lot of the smokers I know go outside to smoke these days though.

 

[shijing]

When I exhale and get the smoke in my eyes it burns, is this the same for everyone?

I would guess so -- best to stand upwind :)

My sister and dad didn't like the idea of me smoking cigarettes in the house. My dad especially said he didn't want me to smoke them inside. But I smoked my pipe in my room a few weeks ago and noone noticed. A lot of the smokers I know go outside to smoke these days though.

If the people you live with have asked you to keep it outside, this is the externally considerate thing to do. It is actually not a bad thing -- good opportunity to go get some fresh air, and depending on where you are smoking, possibly less mess from the ashes as well.

 

[Nathan]

When I exhale and get the smoke in my eyes it burns, is this the same for everyone?

I find this happens to me if I leave the cigarette in my mouth and attempt to do other things with my hands (e.g. typing on a keyboard).

I was surprised at the length of time to smoke a cigarette, it seems only to be 5-8 puffs. I guess I'm used to cigars, which are too long to me.

Hmm, that seems very quick. I've never counted puffs, but I'd say a chemical-free cigarette should be 10-20, maybe even more.

My sister and dad didn't like the idea of me smoking cigarettes in the house. My dad especially said he didn't want me to smoke them inside. But I smoked my pipe in my room a few weeks ago and noone noticed. A lot of the smokers I know go outside to smoke these days though.

I agree with Shijing that it would be best to smoke outside. Even though the smoke will be harmless to them, the smell may annoy them. For example, my housemate is a smoker, so we are fortunate enough that we can choose to smoke inside and air our bedrooms often by opening our windows. But around non-smoking friends who don't like cigarette smoke, we choose not to smoke, or if we're outside then we smoke a reasonable distance away from them so the smoke doesn't blow into their faces. Regardless of the health issues, some people simply don't appreciate having a mouthful of smoke blown into their face.

Also, be mindful of the smell of smoke on the clothes you're wearing. Non-smokers are far more sensitive to this than smokers. I think you'll quickly work out which of your friends, family members etc. are not bothered by you smoking around them and which ones are. And for the ones that are, it's a simple matter of standing a few feet away from them at an angle so the wind doesn't blow smoke into them.

Once you get a handle on being externally considerate with your smoking, then it should be a piece of cake. Buckwheat cake. :)

 

[abstract]

When I first lit one up I smoked it like a cigar and just had a mouthful of smoke . I have only smoked cigars and a pipe and never inhaled, so it took me a while to get used to it.

Kind of the opposite of me...i love to inhale. "Where's my buuuuuuuuzz??!!"

 

[pete02]

I received the American Spirit coupons by registering and used them to get some organics and menthols.

Maybe its just more mainstream nonsense that I learned from my past but I was under the impression that menthols were harmful to you. I know we've discussed organic and chem-free but I don't recall if anyone has brought up menthols and if they're harmful or not. Anybody..?

 

[3DStudent]

There's some info about menthols in this post:

http://www.cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php?topic=3404.msg21866#msg21866

It also talks about the compound used in filters, which seems to be more of a concern. The menthol used can be from peppermint or synthetic, and is used as a pesticide.