What is it That Keeps People Smoking?
There once was a time when smoking was viewed as a glamorous activity. Anyone who has ever watched an old movie has probably noticed that every scene takes place in a smoke filled room. This is because nearly every character you see has a cigarette hanging out of their mouth.
Back then, smoking was associated with being "cool" and sexy. Even women were found to be more attractive when they were smoking. Another reason there were so many people smoking is that there wasn't as much information about the dangers and risks of smoking as there is today.
In today's age of information, there seems to be sufficient proof of what smoking can do to your body and to those around you. For some reason, though, there seems to be just as many people smoking as there ever was. It's interesting, when you examine some of the factors that keep people smoking.
The Inability to Quit
One of the biggest factors that keeps people smoking is the fact that they can't quit, even if they wanted to. Cigarettes contain a drug called nicotine, which is a highly addictive stimulant that raises your heart rate and pumps adrenaline through your body. It has been said that nicotine can be as addictive as heroine and cocaine.
Just like with these other drugs, people experience withdrawal symptoms when they are no longer putting nicotine into their systems. There's proof of that in the number of people who have spent years, in some cases, trying to quit.
Advertising
Tobacco companies have some of the most aggressive advertising campaigns out there. The main reason for this is that they have to work hard to replace the thousands of people that die each year from using their products. The bulk of their efforts are aimed at younger people who are image conscious.
They flood these people with images and pictures of attractive and "cool" people smoking. Many young people are drawn in by the idea that smoking will somehow make them popular and attractive. The thing that gives the tobacco companies the upper hand is that all they have to do is get someone to try smoking. Then they can just sit back and let the cigarettes themselves do the rest of the work.
Stress Management and Other Reasons
There are a number of other psychological factors that keep people smoking as well. Many people believe that smoking will help them stay calm in stressful situations. Other people continue to smoke because of routine or boredom. Some people will keep smoking because they're afraid they will gain weight if they quit.
Some reasons for smoking are social in nature. If someone is in a situation where there are many people smoking, they feel more comfortable if they are smoking as well. Even when it seems like people have every reason to stop, there are several factors that will always keep people smoking, some of which are very difficult to overcome.
