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John H[_2_]

On Sat, 13 Jun 2009 11:25:58 -0400, wrote:

On Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:57:45 -0700, jps wrote:

I have had 2 family members die from smoking related diseases and one
is on the roof as we speak.
They all tended to avoid the doctor and lie to themselves about how
sick they were until the end. Then they went pretty quickly. That is
nothing compared to my non-smoking grandfather who lived to 99 and was
at the doctor all the time for 40 years. (hips, cataracts etc).

Not that I don't appreciate your anecdotes, but I'd prefer to know the
real epidemiology.

Smoking is next to heroin for quitting. My wife quit nearly 20 years
ago and it was among the most difficult things she's done.

The other is marriage.

It is really hard to get any unbiased research on smokers because
everyone involved starts out with the conclusion and works backward
through the data to prove it. That seems to be the definition of a
"study".
I also believe there are lots of smokers who deny it.
I agree it is certainly an addiction. My wife gave up the cigarettes
but she still has a $125 a month gum habit. We buy it from New Zealand
for about half what it costs at the local discount places.
I took the lesson from my grandfather and don't have the nicotine
habit. I do understand the original "buzz" aspect and occasionally I
will smoke a good cigar but I understand that "high" will not happen
if you smoke more than about one a month. You just end up being a
maintenance addict. I actually end up with something like 4 or 5 a
year so I don't mind buying a $10-15 cigar for those special
occasions.

I had the gum habit for several years. Then Nicorette started candy
coating their gum. That was all it took to wean me from it. I switched
to the Orbit gum, which has many of the characteristics of the
Nicorette, but no nicotine. It was actually the chewing of gum I was
addicted to. I had no problem with the switch.
--
John H

"Vote for a Democrat, it's easier than working!"