3 ms·

I smoked a lot for about 15 years. Every time I tried to quit it was cold-turkey and I don't remember ever feeling like I needed the nicotine, I just wanted to

I smoked a lot for about 15 years. Every time I tried to quit it was cold-turkey and I don't remember ever feeling like I needed the nicotine, I just wanted to get away from whatever it was I was supposed to be doing, or what I was doing was so mindless I needed something to preoccupy myself (e.g. driving, walking, sitting around). I'm not sure nicotine is the problem for a lot of people. If it is, lowering it is just going to cause them to smoke more. I'm not sure what ultimately worked for me but I don't really think about it anymore and I can have a few while partying without getting sucked back in to the habit completely. NYS prices may have played a big role.

bhandziuk 9y ago
Why have I read a few comments saying lowering nicotine would cause people to smoke more? I've not smoked before so I don't really get it.
- maxerickson 9y ago
  People are used to a given amount of nicotine. If each unit of tobacco product has less nicotine, they will consume more units to achieve the amount of nicotine they are used to.
- Clubber 9y ago
  Think of it in terms of lowering the oxygen levels in a sealed room. You body will gasp for air in a survival reaction.
- surement 9y ago
  Nicotine is pleasant, it's a nootropic. If there's less in your chosen method of absorption, you will try to compensate.
- Mz 9y ago
  It is like saying that if people need X amount of calories and you decide to put them on a diet by just giving them smaller portions, they will simply eat more portions to hit the calorie level they need. If they smoke for the nicotine, they will smoke until they get the amount they crave. If they smoke because they like something else about it, then they won't. But most people smoke for the nicotine, or they would have some other habit instead.
- jasonkostempski 9y ago
  In my case, I don't think lower nicotine would have increased my smoking because I believe it was the act of smoking I was addicted to, not the drug. I'm sure nicotine had some effect on my quitting, I doubt I'm a special snowflake, immune to the addictive qualities of a substance. However, if nicotine is the only reason someone smokes, they're going to smoke whatever it takes to get their fix. Even without nicotine, the act of smoking anything is harmful. The more of that they do, the worse off their lungs will be. If anything, I think more nicotine per cigarette would be better.

bhandziuk 9y ago

Why have I read a few comments saying lowering nicotine would cause people to smoke more? I've not smoked before so I don't really get it.

maxerickson 9y ago
People are used to a given amount of nicotine. If each unit of tobacco product has less nicotine, they will consume more units to achieve the amount of nicotine they are used to.
Clubber 9y ago
Think of it in terms of lowering the oxygen levels in a sealed room. You body will gasp for air in a survival reaction.
surement 9y ago
Nicotine is pleasant, it's a nootropic. If there's less in your chosen method of absorption, you will try to compensate.
Mz 9y ago
It is like saying that if people need X amount of calories and you decide to put them on a diet by just giving them smaller portions, they will simply eat more portions to hit the calorie level they need. If they smoke for the nicotine, they will smoke until they get the amount they crave. If they smoke because they like something else about it, then they won't. But most people smoke for the nicotine, or they would have some other habit instead.
jasonkostempski 9y ago
In my case, I don't think lower nicotine would have increased my smoking because I believe it was the act of smoking I was addicted to, not the drug. I'm sure nicotine had some effect on my quitting, I doubt I'm a special snowflake, immune to the addictive qualities of a substance. However, if nicotine is the only reason someone smokes, they're going to smoke whatever it takes to get their fix. Even without nicotine, the act of smoking anything is harmful. The more of that they do, the worse off their lungs will be. If anything, I think more nicotine per cigarette would be better.