Do You Increase Smoking as you Age?

[jenkinsdakota]

At the Wikipedia entry on Drug Rehabilitation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_rehabilitation) it says the following: "With regular use of many drugs, legal or otherwise, the brain gradually adapts to the presence of the drug so that the desired effect is minimal. Apparently normal functioning of the user may be observed, despite being under the influence of the drug. This is how physical tolerance develops to drugs such as heroin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroin), amphetamines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphetamines), cocaine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocaine), nicotine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicotine) or alcohol (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol). It also explains why more of the drug is needed to get the same effect with regular use."

This suggests that as you smoke, say, 10 cigarettes a day, your brain develops tolerance to it and to get the same amount of satisfaction as you did when you first started smoking you need to increase the amount you smoke, maybe go up from 10 cigs per day to 20 cigs per day. If you smoke, does this happen to you? Does this hypothesis sound right? Is there any scientific evidence for this ramping up of smokes?

[bronny-jane]

i smoke more now then i did 5 years ago...

[anscje]

I definately smoke more than I used to when I was younger.

I'm 26 now and smoke about 20 a day. When I was only 20 I used to smoke about 10 a day.

[ZooKeeper]

I found after age 30 I have been gradually smoking less and less, now bubba's come it's not many a day at all, ditto while I was pregnant.

it's like my relationship to smoking changed, it became purely recreational ciggies, time out, rather than something i do habitually while doing other things.

still feel guilty as anything, but not ready to be completely ciggie-free. no other vices left to give up and feel the need for one naughty vice.
i don't even eat chocolate for goodness sake :devil6:

[Noah_and_Elijah]

I can't speak for myself but I know my Mum smokes more now than she did say 5 years ago.

Years ago she would go through a pack of 25 in a day and now she is close to going through 40 a day!!! :eek:

[BreakfastatTiffanys]

Yes I completely agree with this and have been addicted for 20yrs. I definately smoke more now than ever before.:thumbsdown:

I really think its time to start thinking about quitting.:idea:

[bronny-jane]

I really think its time to start thinking about quitting.:idea:

im always trying to quit... i finally got it that i wont succeed until im really ready... still waiting

[hayleysmummy]

I agree with the op I started at about 14 and not smoking very often I'm now 19 and smoke at least 20 a day I really should try to quit It's a shocking habit

[Samaras Mummy]

I started smoking at 14 only a couple a day..... I quit smoking at 23 and was smoking about 15-30 smokes a day.

[BreakfastatTiffanys]

im always trying to quit... i finally got it that i wont succeed until im really ready... still waiting


By the way BJ how did you go? Any luck you will be a non smoker when you answer this post.:yes:

[LittleBirdy]

My problem is that drinking and smoking go hand in hand. Most days when my 2 year old has his sleep, i have a beer and couple of ciggies. My reasoning is that i've "earned" it - some reward huh?! STRESS keeps this stupid habit going. And i feel so guilty about smoking. :detective: :thumbsdown: