geb@cadre.UUCP (06/13/84)
In my opinion, the reason most people start smoking is from peer pressure to conform in the teenage years. If one's companions smoke, there is a lot of pressure to do so also to prove that you have the same reckless abandon, and often, disregard for the wishes of parents. Possible long term consequences are the farthest thing from the mind of the youth. It is similar to reckless driving and drinking that also goes on at this age. Later, once one is addicted, it is extremely unpleasant to try to quit. Certainly nicotene is as addictive as opium, it is just that it does not serve society to speak of it in such terms since a large proportion of the world population is addicted. At this point, the evidence that cigarettes are harmful to health is so strong that nearly all adults who are physically able to do so have done so (certain personality types find it easier to quit addictions, including opium, by the way), and those left usually are able to rationalize (or just give up) until they actually have a heart attack or develop a tumor, upon which most of them find they really can quit if they are scared enough. Unfortunately, it is then usually too late.