Why adults smoke

On This Page. Current Smoking Among Adults in Nation. By Sex 2. Men were more likely to be current cigarette smokers than women. About 15 of every adult men By Age 2. Larger Infographic. By Education 2. About 35 of every adults with a GED certificate By Annual Household Income 2. Census Region 2. Current cigarette smoking was highest in the Midwest and lowest in the West.

It is often found to be low in people with depression, who may then use cigarettes as a way of temporarily increasing their dopamine supply. However, smoking encourages the brain to switch off its own mechanism for making dopamine so in the long term the supply decreases, which in turn prompts people to smoke more. People with depression can have particular difficulty when they try to stop smoking and have more severe withdrawal symptoms.

People with schizophrenia are three times more likely to smoke than other people and tend to smoke more heavily. A recent study has shown smoking may increase the risk of developing schizophrenia. However, further research is needed to fully understand how the two are linked. Stopping smoking suddenly through willpower alone is the least effective way to quit. If you take antidepressants or antipsychotic medicines, talk to your GP or psychiatrist before you stop smoking.

The dosage you take may need to be monitored and the amount you need to take could be reduced. This is because smoking can reduce the levels of some medications in the blood, so you may need a lower dose when you quit. Think about your relationship with smoking. Write down what you will gain by not smoking, such as better physical health, fresher breath, improved concentration and more money to spend on other things. Stopping smoking can be easier with the support of family and friends.

If you live with people who smoke, or have friends who smoke, suggest to them that you give up together. If other household members smoke, encourage them not to smoke around you or leave their cigarettes, ashtrays or lighters where you will see them. In the latter part of the article, we will provide a few tips on how to help you quit smoking entirely. There are many reasons why people feel compelled to smoke cigarettes.

According to the American Cancer Society, before the age of 18, at least 9 out of 10 individuals turn into adult smokers. Furthermore, the younger you are when you start smoking, the higher the chance of being addicted to nicotine. This is why people continue to smoke into their later years, even with the plans of quitting initially.

No matter how many times you tell a teenager how bad smoking can be, a large number of them will still try, especially with how glamorous it looks through advertisements shown across our screens.

The media portrays smoking in a way that smoking makes you look cooler, more sociable, or perhaps even more attractive to a potential partner. The problem is, at least for the majority of them, the more frequent they smoke, the more they become addicted, which then leads them to continue to smoke for a long time.

Peer pressure is not limited to just teenagers, though. Individuals may also want to smoke to fit in within a workplace as smokers easily create a sense of bond over a smoke.

For an individual who would want to build more meaning into their lives, they may try smoking to earn a sense of camaraderie. Meanwhile, parents who are loose with their kids and do not restrict their kids on viewing films and the like that portray smokers in a positive light set their child up to be influenced by these films as well. Additionally, parents who show that smoking is socially acceptable behavior, even if they do not smoke themselves, may cause children to experiment with smoking too.

This means that it is not just enough to raise your kids in a non-smoking environment. Parents must be fully committed to instilling and constantly communicating with a child how unhealthy, intolerable, and, most importantly, how detrimental smoking is.

This is a common occurrence worldwide and throughout different time periods. Furthermore, a large number of film characters are smokers, which can make adolescents believe that smoking is desirable and trendy. Having more campaigns that educate people about smoking and imparting how unacceptable it should be, may help reduce smokers in the future.

The research involves an addiction to nicotine, which is an active ingredient in tobacco products like cigarettes. However, it is important to remember that studies that involve addiction in genetics do not mean that a gene for addiction is automatically passed down. It regards how susceptible an individual can be to take up a habit such as smoking. I know that quitting is a learning experience. I seek and embrace the triggers so that I can conquer them and establish new healthy habits in their place.

I was afraid to make the commitment to myself to never have another puff because I feared failure. I have now made a personal commitment to myself to quit smoking for good. It's important to have your "why" when you quit smoking. I have my myriad reasons why I quit, but here are some of the top ways smoking was affecting my life for the negative.

So you're ready to finally quit smoking? Our free guide can help you get on the right track. Sign up and get yours today. US National Library of Medicine. Quitting Smoking resource clearinghouse page.

Bethesda, Md. Topic last reviewed: 17 July Page last updated: 16 January Challenges When Quitting. Handling Stress. Coping With Stress Without Smoking. Your Privacy Rights.