re: Why do people smoke cigarettes or vape?

I would say most people are influenced by the behavior of others. If their friends start smoking, they will likely start. I am sure kids who come from households in which at least one parent smokes is more likely to do so.

My dad smoked and when he got sick, when I was in HS, it made things worse for him. He passed away the January I graduated HS. I never once had the urge to smoke and because I was told growing up addicting it was I never even wanted to try smoking a cigarette. Ive smoked marijuana, not on a regular basis or anything, but with edibles available, if I want to use that's the way I consume.

I remember an old boss of mine, who was in Vietnam (the war) told me that a guy he had become friends with on his tour got addicted to heroin and about 6 weeks before his tour was over he hid out. He didn't want to come back and his parents see him as the heroin addict he became. He said the guy pretty much hid out under his bed and would lay there shivering, which went on for a few weeks.

When his time came for him to go home he was actually looking pretty healthy, but he was still smoking. My boss said he asked the guy about it and he told him he was able to kick heroin and everything else he was taking, but cigarettes was too hard for him to give up.

I thought that was interesting because something that strong to kick is sold legally. It might even do more long term damage than some illegal drugs, but its legal to sell.