Top 10 Reasons Why People Smoke
Convincing people to stop smoking sounds simple, but in reality, it is a hard task. The truth is, you cannot control people or their habits.Now comes the main question: Why do people smoke? Some smoke because they may be stressed in their lives, they are influenced by the choices of other people, or they just simply enjoy it.
In this list, we explain the reasons why people smoke, and why they continue to do so.
The real world is stressful. Everyone knows that. Under stress, your brain has trouble thinking logically, making short-term coping mechanisms more appealing.
Smoking is a prime example of this and is among one of the unhealthiest coping mechanisms to have. Additionally, trauma (such as a family member dying) is a major factor in why people start smoking.
Mental health issues are also a major source of stress. Anxiety disorder, depression, bipolar disorder, you name it. Normally, people with mental health issues or disorders have more impulsive tendencies, which makes them more susceptible to smoking.
Adults with depression smoke twice as much as adults who do not have depression, according to a study (Hamalainen J, et al.).
I rarely smoke, but it is something that I do occasionally when I want to kick back and relax.
Life can be boring, and boredom is a huge motivator for why people are open to new experiences, such as partying, going to clubs, or finding new hobbies.
Smoking happens to be one of them.
A good portion of people may want to quit smoking. They have been addicted long enough that some of them start to take their health and their quality of life more seriously. However, the withdrawal effects can be miserable to the point that some resume their previous smoking habits.
Have you ever tried resisting an itch that gradually becomes stronger? That's the effect you get when you try to quit a smoking addiction.
People smoke because other people around their lives smoke. There are studies that show exposure to second-hand smoke makes them more likely to smoke, especially among young people.
The effect is stronger when their parents smoke.
A lot of people smoke because it helps them focus. The nicotine in a cigarette is a stimulant, triggering dopamine to be released in the brain, which helps them to concentrate.
However, this brings them a grim consequence such as arteries in the brain being blocked, depriving the brain of oxygen. This is a similar logic to why people use drugs to feel a sense of euphoria.
This is one of the most indirect reasons why people smoke, but many do not realize how pervasive and persuasive advertisements are. Advertisements change the outlook on smoking and on people who smoke in a way that suits the advertisers' goals. How many times have you seen a film or other media featuring someone and thought, "That's so cool," or, "That person sounds deep, sophisticated, etc."? An advertisement not only persuades you to buy a product, but reminds you that it is there when you feel you want it. Instilling it in your subconsciousness is the major intent of it, which makes people much more likely to buy the product.
Every time you see a smoker on the street, or a piece of media, you are classically conditioned to perceive it as cool, which is why it is widely accepted in society. Additionally, such advertising and media portrayals of smoking can induce FOMO (fear of missing out), which motivates you to buy a product in order to fit in with a group. For example, you can imagine yourself in a classroom surrounded by your mates saying, "This item is so cool," or in worse cases, teasing or bullying you directly or indirectly until you get this certain product (Pokémon marketing in the 90s is a prime example of this).
The same and similar scenarios happen all the time, just often in an adult setting (workplaces, bars, etc.).
Your genes predetermine whether you are at risk for addictive habits, including smoking. A 2019 study (published in Nat Neurosci) shows that low expressions of CHRNA2 in the brain tissue are linked to a higher risk of cannabis use disorder.
The Newcomers
Some people just like to smoke because they simply enjoy it. A lot of people crave the feel of it.
This is a big reason why they fall into the addiction. It is hard to get out of the rabbit hole once the habit is established.
This is more common among young people. It is common for teenagers and young adults to not like being bossed around by authority figures, especially parents.
This is a natural tendency and a way to prove their independence, which is a major part of puberty.
