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> Most smokers try and fail to quit multiple times before they succeed. It's a strong addiction, with a lot of negative emotional associations. I know it will

by mcny 7y ago

> Most smokers try and fail to quit multiple times before they succeed. It's a strong addiction, with a lot of negative emotional associations. I know it will sound too obvious but my thought when I read the above is that the best time to reach people about the dangers of smoking is before they start smoking. I am not so sure that smokers are aware of the risks of smoking, especially when they first start smoking. A big one a smoking friend told me that he could tell himself was decreased lung capacity. I don't know if this is scientifically proven (anecdotal evidence) but he says he used to swim longer when he was younger (and didn't smoke). Just spitballing: How do you feel about a ban on buying tobacco related products without a license/prescription? Like you can buy cigarettes and such only if you have a document that says you need it?

mercer 7y ago
As a smoker I'd be fully in favor of that. Anything that lets existing smokers do their thing, but makes it significantly more difficult for non-smokers to start, is a good thing.
jschwartzi 7y ago
In the US we tried a program called DARE that was focused on telling kids about the dangers of harder drugs to try to get them to stay away. That program was later discontinued because it was shown to have no impact. Part of the problem here is that we focus on the negatives of smoking as the reason for quitting. But nobody ever talks about how good it can feel to smoke a cigarette. It's relaxing. The nicotine creates this nice, peaceful feeling. In my opinion if you want people to quit smoking you need to give them the tools to create that feeling without smoking. Otherwise people will seek that feeling out when they're trying to quit and the easiest way for them to get it is to light a cigarette.
- mcny 7y ago
  > In the US we tried a program called DARE that was focused on telling kids about the dangers of harder drugs to try to get them to stay away. That program was later discontinued because it was shown to have no impact. Part of the problem here is that we focus on the negatives of smoking as the reason for quitting. But nobody ever talks about how good it can feel to smoke a cigarette. It's relaxing. The nicotine creates this nice, peaceful feeling. I don't smoke and I have no intention of learning the nice, peaceful feeling. I was just saying that we already require people to be twenty one years old to buy tobacco. I completely support legalization of all drugs but perhaps there should be some supervision. I thought requiring a prescription/license to buy drugs makes sense. We require a doctor's visit to get birth control pills. Perhaps we could even get rid of the age limit if we require a prescription... Or do you fear the market will flood with unlicensed (possibly adulterated/low quality) tobacco products if we make it too difficult to get tobacco without a license/prescription?

by mcny 7y ago

mercer 7y ago

As a smoker I'd be fully in favor of that. Anything that lets existing smokers do their thing, but makes it significantly more difficult for non-smokers to start, is a good thing.

jschwartzi 7y ago

In the US we tried a program called DARE that was focused on telling kids about the dangers of harder drugs to try to get them to stay away. That program was later discontinued because it was shown to have no impact. Part of the problem here is that we focus on the negatives of smoking as the reason for quitting. But nobody ever talks about how good it can feel to smoke a cigarette. It's relaxing. The nicotine creates this nice, peaceful feeling. In my opinion if you want people to quit smoking you need to give them the tools to create that feeling without smoking. Otherwise people will seek that feeling out when they're trying to quit and the easiest way for them to get it is to light a cigarette.

mcny 7y ago
> In the US we tried a program called DARE that was focused on telling kids about the dangers of harder drugs to try to get them to stay away. That program was later discontinued because it was shown to have no impact. Part of the problem here is that we focus on the negatives of smoking as the reason for quitting. But nobody ever talks about how good it can feel to smoke a cigarette. It's relaxing. The nicotine creates this nice, peaceful feeling. I don't smoke and I have no intention of learning the nice, peaceful feeling. I was just saying that we already require people to be twenty one years old to buy tobacco. I completely support legalization of all drugs but perhaps there should be some supervision. I thought requiring a prescription/license to buy drugs makes sense. We require a doctor's visit to get birth control pills. Perhaps we could even get rid of the age limit if we require a prescription... Or do you fear the market will flood with unlicensed (possibly adulterated/low quality) tobacco products if we make it too difficult to get tobacco without a license/prescription?