[version_five]

Agreed. The article mentions becoming a new person - for me, it's different, I'm still a smoker, I just don't smoke anymore. I quit 10 years ago, and I won't start again, but I still want to smoke every day.

I rarely see this discussed when people talk about addiction. You can't un-ring the bell so to speak, and once you know you can do something you enjoy, you don't just forget about it. The cliche of the addict tied to the bed for a few weeks and then back to normal is not my experience at all. Acute withdrawal is easy compared to the hole that is left in your life. And I'm just talking about cigarettes, happily i never got involved with anything even more addictive.

[mlang23]

I think there is a vast difference how individuals deal with addictions. Some are better at it, and some are pretty hopeless. I have been smoking nicotine on-and-off since more then 20 years. But I still have no craving when I stop. Last time I realized how strong the difference is was when I did a overseas flight. After 12 hours flight, first touchdown on some island for refuel. A friend of mine was desperately trying to find a place to smoke. She basically used all the 60 minutes she had seeking an opportuinty to smoke at least one cigarette. I was watching her the whole time, pretty amused, realizing that I have no craving at all. That doesnt mean I didnt smoke a cigarette a few hours later when we finally arrived and left the airport. But watching the difference from person to person was pretty interesting.

[Cederfjard]

I’m not an expert, but from what I’ve read, tobacco (especially cigarettes) are up there with the most addictive substances. Like, competing with cocaine and heroin. Obviously since the mind-altering effects are much more subtle, and it’s legal, it’s less disruptive (at least until it gets you sick).

[Rapzid]

Quitting smoking is harder than quitting cocaine IMHO.

[mlang23]

Comparing heroin, cocaine and nicotine as if they were similar pretty much shows that your experience only comes from reading about them :-)

[Cederfjard]

I compared one specific aspect, which is addictiveness. Other aspects might be (and obviously are, in this case) more different, but that's comparisons work - the specifics about what you're comparing doesn't become invalid just because other things about them don't match the same way.

I still stand by this particular statement. Given how you phrased what you said, I don't know if you think cigarettes are way less addictive than the others, or if you got hung up on me comparing them at all, or if you actually don't have any beef with the claim per se but just wanted to say that for some reason. For what it's worth you have no idea about my lived experiences.