Second hand smoke
@MommaOfAllTrades (969)
Canada
February 28, 2008 10:17am CST
Question: If smoking/nicotine is addictive, wouldn't second hand smoke be as well?
I was raised in a home where both parents were heavy smokers. My childhood was also not what you would consider a day in the park, I had my fair share of stress. But I find as I grew older, when I got into really stressful situations, I would crave a cigarette! In my dreams, most of the time, I am a smoker!
The kicker here is that I am a very proud Non-Smoker. I've never even tried a cigarette before. I don't judge smokers nor put them down for their habit, I just appreciate you take your cigarette outside of my own home.
So this gets me to thinking that growing up in a smoke filled home can cause one to be addicted to nicotine/second hand smoke without even trying a drag from a cigarette.
I want to know your opinion. Wouldn't it make sense that second hand smoke is just as addicting that the actual cigarette?
2 people like this
4 responses
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
1 Mar 08
I dont think that it is addictive in the traditional sense. It is more of a passive thing. I am married to a smoker who does not smoke in the house but I have been with him outside or in a car where he smokes and the smoke always irritates me. I dont think the secondhand smoke hits the receptors in the brain the way real smoking does, but it can cause the same medical illnesses that smokers have. You can possible get lung cancer or bronchitis and other breathing problems from second hand smoke. It is an interesting idea and I dont recall ever hearing a medicial person say that second hand smoke is addictive. But you never know.
@Sissygrl (10909)
• Canada
28 Feb 08
I dunno the answer to your question. . But i grew up in a smoking home as well, and i ended up being a smoker at the age of 14 i decided i wanted to try it to see what teh big deal was. And then it continued for 10 or 11 years, but now i'm reformed, and i wouldnt ever smoke again, and i wouldnt ever let anyone smoke around my kids.
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
28 Feb 08
That is a very good question, Momma.. They do say that you can get cancer from second-hand smoke, so I guess you could also get addicted to that as well..
but I want to say, that I think you are awesome to grow up in that environment and not start smoking yourself, good for you..:)
@dlucks101 (79)
• United States
28 Feb 08
It is funny, I have the save images in my dreams. I think that is because it is soo prevalent in movies to be cool by smoking and when someone is stressed they grab a cig and lightup. Puff, they are no longer stressed.
Second hand smoke addictive? Be interesting to see about that since it is just as bad for you. I know people who have grown up around smoking parents and have never smoked. It really is just a lifestyle choice.
I think it all amounts to an oral fixation.
