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Thread: Occasional Smoking Risk?

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    Occasional Smoking Risk?

    Now, I know we've all seen the warnings on cigarettes that they're harder to quit than heroin. But I've always been able to smoke very socially. Like, I started at 16/17 and haven't had more than 1-2 packs a year every year since then (I'm almost 21). I basically only like clove cigarettes and the sensation of smoking them, regular cigs don't do anything for me and I don't crave the nicotine.

    So anyway, I know it's bad (duh) but...if you're just smoking a pack a year, is the risk for lung cancer still realistically there? Like, is this the kind of thing that=cancer or do you have to do it semi-regularly for that to apply?

    Hmm. Maybe they make herbal cigarettes with cloves, but minus the nicotine?

  2. #2
    Gypsy74
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    Default Re: Occasional Smoking Risk?

    I started out like that. Smoking cloves socially ( I didn't even smoke regular cigarettes) I'd have like 1-2 whenever I went out with my friends who smoked them too, never bought my own pack though. I got addicted after 2 months and started buying my own packs, went through about a pack a week for the next 2 months, and then started smoking 2 packs a week (and smoking regular cigarettes if I was desperate). Eventually I started smoking 1/2 pack a day.. I smoked for a year, haven't had one since June 19th now .. They are REALLY bad for you, they might taste better and feel better than normal cigarettes, but they have more nicotine and are just generally horrible for you. Definitely look into herbal cigarettes, I know there's herbs you can buy online to smoke (search legal buds) (it's not marijuana) and maybe you could roll your own cigarettes? Cloves=bad. aghghg now I want one. but I won't.. because I quit! It's been about a month and a half now

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    Default Re: Occasional Smoking Risk?

    I'd think we'd all inhale more than a pack a year due to second hand smoke (and no I'm not one of those preachy people that fake cough or bitch about others smoking in their vicinity). I'm pretty sure its insignificant when compared to so many other carcinogens we face. I smoked a lot during high school but these days I only buy packs once or twice a year, usually when I'm going through a breakup or PMSing like a mofo.

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    Veteran Member naughty_princess's Avatar
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    Default Re: Occasional Smoking Risk?

    same here! since i was 16 i've smoked maybe a just under a pack a year. I never had any urge to do it more often, and if i did i just ignored it because i hate how it makes my clothes and everything smell afterwards. Smoking occasionally will increase your risks but much less than someone who is smoking a pack a day (which i dont even see how thats possible!)
    they have organic cigs, i have a friend who smokes them, they aren't bad, kinda clove-y. im not sure if they are any better for you but i guess it cant hurt right?

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    Default Re: Occasional Smoking Risk?

    meh, I think you will be okay health wise. It's getting addicted you should be worrying about. It's not the nicotine expressly that gives you cancer btw.

    I don't smoke cigs or cloves but I do like to smoke a hookah now and then, I bet its about the same.

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    Default Re: Occasional Smoking Risk?

    I agree that if you keep doing what you are doing, you'll probably be okay health wise. BUT, the risk is that you won't stick to a pack a year of social smoking. The risk is that you'll get hooked and start smoking full time. After all, thats how every smoker got started... first a smoke or two socially, maybe cloves occasionally, have some cigs if you are drinking.... I mean, what you described is EXACTLY what I did at 17. Next thing I knew, my smoking became a habit and I smoked for the next 10 years. Do yourself a favor and quit now, before you get hooked and fuck up your health and beauty!

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    Default Re: Occasional Smoking Risk?

    Thanks everyone.

    I've been smoking like this for almost 5 years. Throughout my entire smoking career everyone has said I'll be hooked the next year...but I've kept my steady pack a year routine because I don't allow myself to buy more. I compare it to those friends of mine who can have a glass of wine, and those who when they drink need a whole bottle.

    I think the fact that my cigarettes are so greatly space out-like one a month-is why I'm not addicted. I've noticed if I smoke many in succession, I can start to feel a slight craving, so I stop. Also, the smokes I like are hard to get ahold of, so the fact that I can't buy them everywhere probably helps.

    Obviously, it'd be ideal to quit entirely. But I was just wondering about the health risks of a pack a year, if this had been studied and so forth.

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    Default Re: Occasional Smoking Risk?

    So why don't you quit entirely? What is it that makes you want to continue in this way?

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    Default Re: Occasional Smoking Risk?

    Um, for the same reason people occasionally smoke up, do E, or engage in any behaviour that not 100% good for them. If it's not going to make more of an impact on my health than say, visiting a smoggy city or smoky bar, or eating junk food, then I'd want to weigh risk vs. pleasure. I really enjoy the taste of the cloves and it's nice as an occasional stress relief/ritual thing.

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