Confessions of a smoker by Lora Pfundheller.

I am a smoker by choice. Nobody has ever forced me to light a cigarette. I smoke because I like it. Maybe I even need to smoke. I know I am hooked. I blame nobody but myself. I could quit, but I don't want to. Being a smoker is part of who I am.
I started smoking when I was fourteen years old. I loved it right away. I stole my first cigarette from the suitcase of my visiting grandmother. That first smoke was wonderful and awful, all at once. It made me light-headed and slightly nauseous. My heart began to race, and I broke out in a cold sweat. I felt energized but also oddly soothed. Smoking made me feel simultaneously calm and focused. I had been around smokers all my life, and I felt ready to be initiated into the ranks. In my eyes, I had taken my first steps on the road to adulthood.

The ritual of selecting a cigarette, lighting it and taking that first drag was magical to me. It never occurred to me that I was igniting the fire of addiction. I'm not sure I would have avoided smoking in any case. In those times, smoking was accepted, even admired in some circles. Although it shocks me now, students at my high school were allowed to smoke, and even had a designated area to do so. The school didn't require parental permission, although several of us smoked with our parents' knowledge and consent. We were growing up, and smoking was simply a rite of passage.
I fully expected to be forced to quit when I joined the Army. I was delighted to discover that I wasn't expected to give up my favorite habit. On the contrary, we were given regular "smoke breaks", even in basic training. We were able to buy cigarettes at a deep discount at the PX. It almost seemed that we were being encouraged to smoke. Many people who were non-smokers when they entered the service had begun to smoke by the time they were finished with boot camp. I was surrounded by others who shared my vice, and life was good.
I confess to smoking throughout my first two pregnancies. I thought about quitting during the second, but when I consulted my doctor he told me it was a bad idea. My body, according to him, was accustomed to nicotine, and it would be dangerous to go through withdrawal while pregnant. I was happy with this advice, and resolved to ignore the dirty looks I sometimes caught from strangers. After all, I had my doctor's blessing, and that was all I needed.
After smoking for eleven years, I decided to quit. I set a date, and told my friends.
They all encouraged me, but I could see they didn't really believe I would do it. I happen to possess a large stubborn streak. I was determined to prove them all wrong. I quit, cold turkey. I employed all kinds of tricks to keep myself from lighting up. When I felt the urge, I would do the dishes or bathe the kids, as it is virtually impossible to smoke with wet hands. The dishes sparkled, and the kids were waterlogged for months, but I didn't smoke. I found myself enjoying the taste of food more, and I liked the way my home and clothing smelled. I was successful! I stayed off cigarettes for ten years. Actually, that isn't entirely true. I had a number of lapses. When my grandmother passed away, I took up smoking for about a week to get me through the wake and funeral. When I was stressed or upset or nervous, I would secretly buy a pack of cigarettes and puff away. When I went to Florida to visit my mother or hung out with my favorite cousin, I inevitably ended up smoking with them. These instances didn't happen often, but I felt guilty each time. I vowed never to do it again. I rationalized my behavior by calling it an occasional indulgence, but the truth was that I missed it and I never stopped thinking of myself as a smoker.
After the birth of my last child, I gave in. I was married to a smoker, and my friends all smoked. I didn't want to be left out, so I picked up the habit again. It felt like coming home. I enjoyed the social aspect of smoking with my friends. I looked forward to ending a good meal with a smoke. During the rough times, I felt I couldn't live without my cigarettes. I wondered why I had ever stopped.
I honestly enjoy smoking. That first drag is still magical. Cigarettes give me comfort during bad times and make good times even better. Like every other smoker Ive encountered, I understand the health problems smoking can cause. I know it is a bad habit that may someday kill me. I know I should quit. Mostly, I don't care. I accept the risk. Many life choices are unhealthy, and nobody lives forever. I try to be responsible and considerate with my habit. I don't smoke in my house, or in the car when the kids are with me. I don't chain smoke. I don't smoke around non-smokers, unless they give me permission. I don't throw my butts on the ground. I try to minimize the effects of my choice on everyone around me. All I ask in return is the right to smoke in peace.
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By Actually, that isn't entirely true. I had a number of lapses. When my grandmother passed away, I took up smoking for about a week to get me through the wake and funeral. When I was stressed or upset or nervous, I would secretly buy a pack of cigarettes and puff away. When I went to Florida to visit my mother or hung out with my favorite cousin, I inevitably ended up smoking with them. These instances didn't happen often, but I felt guilty each time. I vowed never to do it again. I rationalized my behavior by calling it an occasional indulgence, but the truth was that I missed it and I never stopped thinking of myself as a smoker.
After the birth of my last child, I gave in. I was married to a smoker, and my friends all smoked. I didn't want to be left out, so I picked up the habit again. It felt like coming home. I enjoyed the social aspect of smoking with my friends. I looked forward to ending a good meal with a smoke. During the rough times, I felt I couldn't live without my cigarettes. I wondered why I had ever stopped.
I honestly enjoy smoking. That first drag is still magical. Cigarettes give me comfort during bad times and make good times even better. Like every other smoker Ive encountered, I understand the health problems smoking can cause. I know it is a bad habit that may someday kill me. I know I should quit. Mostly, I don't care. I accept the risk. Many life choices are unhealthy, and nobody lives forever. I try to be responsible and considerate with my habit. I don't smoke in my house, or in the car when the kids are with me. I don't chain smoke. I don't smoke around non-smokers, unless they give me permission. I don't throw my butts on the ground. I try to minimize the effects of my choice on everyone around me. All I ask in return is the right to smoke in peace. Actually, that isn't entirely true. I had a number of lapses. When my grandmother passed away, I took up smoking for about a week to get me through the wake and funeral. When I was stressed or upset or nervous, I would secretly buy a pack of cigarettes and puff away. When I went to Florida to visit my mother or hung out with my favorite cousin, I inevitably ended up smoking with them. These instances didn't happen often, but I felt guilty each time. I vowed never to do it again. I rationalized my behavior by calling it an occasional indulgence, but the truth was that I missed it and I never stopped thinking of myself as a smoker.
After the birth of my last child, I gave in. I was married to a smoker, and my friends all smoked. I didn't want to be left out, so I picked up the habit again. It felt like coming home. I enjoyed the social aspect of smoking with my friends. I looked forward to ending a good meal with a smoke. During the rough times, I felt I couldn't live without my cigarettes. I wondered why I had ever stopped.
I honestly enjoy smoking. That first drag is still magical. Cigarettes give me comfort during bad times and make good times even better. Like every other smoker Ive encountered, I understand the health problems smoking can cause. I know it is a bad habit that may someday kill me. I know I should quit. Mostly, I don't care. I accept the risk. Many life choices are unhealthy, and nobody lives forever. I try to be responsible and considerate with my habit. I don't smoke in my house, or in the car when the kids are with me. I don't chain smoke. I don't smoke around non-smokers, unless they give me permission. I don't throw my butts on the ground. I try to minimize the effects of my choice on everyone around me. All I ask in return is the right to smoke in peace.
Actually, that isn't entirely true. I had a number of lapses. When my grandmother passed away, I took up smoking for about a week to get me through the wake and funeral. When I was stressed or upset or nervous, I would secretly buy a pack of cigarettes and puff away. When I went to Florida to visit my mother or hung out with my favorite cousin, I inevitably ended up smoking with them. These instances didn't happen often, but I felt guilty each time. I vowed never to do it again. I rationalized my behavior by calling it an occasional indulgence, but the truth was that I missed it and I never stopped thinking of myself as a smoker.
After the birth of my last child, I gave in. I was married to a smoker, and my friends all smoked. I didn't want to be left out, so I picked up the habit again. It felt like coming home. I enjoyed the social aspect of smoking with my friends. I looked forward to ending a good meal with a smoke. During the rough times, I felt I couldn't live without my cigarettes. I wondered why I had ever stopped.
I honestly enjoy smoking. That first drag is still magical. Cigarettes give me comfort during bad times and make good times even better. Like every other smoker Ive encountered, I understand the health problems smoking can cause. I know it is a bad habit that may someday kill me. I know I should quit. Mostly, I don't care. I accept the risk. Many life choices are unhealthy, and nobody lives forever. I try to be responsible and considerate with my habit. I don't smoke in my house, or in the car when the kids are with me. I don't chain smoke. I don't smoke around non-smokers, unless they give me permission. I don't throw my butts on the ground. I try to minimize the effects of my choice on everyone around me. All I ask in return is the right to smoke in peace.

Source:http://www.helium.com/items/953053-confessions-of-a-smoker

Cannabis smoke contains more toxic chemical products

CANNABIS smokers inhale more than toxic chemical products than those who smoke cigarettes.When cannabis is inhaled directly, marijuana contains 20 times more lung-damaging ammonia and five times as much hydrogen cyanide and nitrogen oxides than cigarette smoke, a team led by David Moir at Health Canada reports.In Washington DC, approximately 235 000 persons use hashish, and it - most with a breakaway gap the used illegal medicinal mode in a national dial, according to overall review by the Australian Governments Institute of Criminology.
Recent Scientists have started study after detection, that though 4000 toxic chemical products have been enumerated in tobacco to a smoke, no such entry exists for hashish.
Great historians have discovered almost 20 harmful chemical products in hashish extracts. All cannabis toxines have been discovered on higher concentrations than in a cigarette smoke.
“Cannabis contains similar carcinogenic agents to tobacco, in the volatile particular organic combinations,” Stephen Spiro of the British Lung Foundation told New Scientist magazine.
“It, they exist in higher similar or even ratios to a tobacco smoke, - large trouble.”

CLICK HERE to get a guide on how to quit CANNABIS.

How to quit cannabis

1. One week before you quit, start taking the Basic Supplements.2. Don’t quit cannabis and cigarettes at the same time. Quit one and then quit the other. See Chapter 21 for how to quit cigarettes.3. Take the Mood Prescription (see pg 416). Amongst other things this contains essential fats (especially omega-3), essential for normal mood, motivation and memory (see Chapter 29).4. Most of the withdrawal symptoms have to do with neurotransmitter depletion and imbalance. Since acetylcholine is affected you need more phospholipids, especially phosphatidylcholine. As well as taking the Basic Supplements, which provides some phospholipids, we recommend adding either 2 teaspoonfuls of lecithin or a 1,200mg capsule of lecithin each day for a month and include an egg yolk in your daily diet. 5. If you do feel dopey, tired and unmotivated after quitting, we recommend the Stimulant Prescription (see pg 403) . Among other key nutrients, this contains tyrosine (the amino acid precursor of dopamine and noradrenalin). You’ll need 1,000mg twice a day, taken on waking and either mid-morning or mid-afternoon without food.6. If your main symptoms after quitting are anxiety or irritability and an inability to sleep you may benefit from more 5-HTP or tryptophan, which is in the Sleep Prescription (see pg 397). If you suffer from overactivity, restlessness, poor concentration and impulsivity, take 10mg NADH, 1g of fish oil twice a day, eat unfried oily fish three times a week, and consider hidden (IgG) food allergy testing (see Chapter 14).7. Cannabis affects your blood sugar balance – hence feeling hungry (‘the munchies’). Therefore, it is vital for you to become a master of keeping your blood sugar level even by following our low-GL How to Quit Diet. 8. As you are smoking less, it’s important to stimulate your lungs with some clean air, as well as getting some endorphin-boosting, cortisol-reducing exercise. So, go for walks or jogs outside, gradually building up your endurance.
The most important keys for you to follow are:
• Rebalance Your Brain with Amino Acids (Chapter 7) – here you will find out how your symptoms are all to do with dopamine and opioid shut down and which specific amino acids will get your brain back on track.• Rebuild Your Brain with Essential Fats (Chapter 10) – by optimising your intake of the brain’s essential fats you can help to undo the damage and get your memory and concentration back.• Balance Your Blood Sugar to Gain Energy and Reduce Cravings (Chapter 11) – by learning how to eat to keep your blood sugar, and your energy level even, you’ll have less cravings for cannabis.
What to expect 30 days laterIt takes, on average, about 30 days to recover and normalise your brain’s chemistry and blood sugar balance. If you’ve been using a variety of addictive substances for years, our advice would be to stick to this kind of recovery programme for at least 90 days.
Otherwise, provided your Scale of Abstinence Symptoms Severity score has dropped by two-thirds (see Chart Your Progress on page 26), stop the Stimulant Prescription (see pg 403) and the Sleep Prescription (see pg 397), but keep taking the Basic Supplements. By now you’ll know the effects of the other temporary supplements such as tyrosine and 5-HTP. Reduce or stop these according to your need.