I’ll be honest. I hate the stale smell of cigarette smoke on clothing, and especially the actual smoke puffed in my face. Some folks argue there there is no harm, but I don’t believe them. I have a no smoking rule in my home. All of my relatives are aware of it, and they either do not smoke during their visit, or they smoke briefly in the driveway. Most smokers can refrain for a short family party of two to four hours. When a guest of a relative couldn’t, I thought it spoke to a lack of courtesy or self control. What I didn’t realize is how addicting nicotine can actually be to some folks.
I have a relative who has tried to quit on several occasions and it just has never seemed to stick. They have tried cold turkey, they have tried asking folks to give them ultimatums and threats and it just hasn’t worked. I have noticed that there are two components of smoking addiction. First off, its really the nicotine. But what often actually prevents people from stopping is the social implications. Fewer and fewer people smoke, but the ones that do often find kinship in one another during smoking breaks or have relatives who also smoke and socializing with them puts them in the line of temptation. A smoker also misses the actual act of fiddling with or holding a cigarette. Kojak turned to lollipops, but it doesn’t work for everyone. Lollipops don’t actually make someone quick, but just fills the need to fiddle or hold something in one’s mouth to distract oneself.
Recently, I have read some cigrx reviews. It is a type of mint-flavored nicotine lozenge that doesn’t attempt to eliminate smoking, but substitute it. =. It is much more discreet than the chewing sound effects of gum. While I think it is dangerous in the hands of young people, it might be a viable way for smokers to participate for longer periods of time at wedding receptions and running around an amusement park. While it doesn’t prevent the nicotine from coursing through their blood, perhaps it will strengthen some social ties that became distant. If they no longer are puffing in people’s faces, the friends that just had a baby might invite them into their home more, and they will re-establish a support network so that when they are ready to throw away the habit for good, they will have more people to call them out for disappearing with a cigarette. They just won’t be able to.
I am not demonizing smokers, but just like any other habit, the more support you have and the longer you can interact in social situations without excusing yourself, the richer and healthier life becomes.
