Are you a smoker?

[Hawkeye-X]

if so, what brand do you smoke? Right now I'm smoking Marlboros, but I want to stop buying them and smoking Democratic-donor smokes.

Hawkeye-X

[meegbear]

1. Cigar smoker

Ashton Prime Ministers, 6 7/8 x 48.

[PAMod]

24. I'll have one of those, meegbear - we can even light up in my office

Right now I have a box of La Flor de Murias - they're pretty good & the presentation is awesome. Each stick is wrapped in black tissue paper and they came in a black laquered box.

You can't beat Ashton though; my fave is the Aged Maduro #60.

[Cappurr]

2. I smoke Marlboros

And I don't give a shit who they donate to. I'm sure they donate to everybody thats how the tobacco companies have sold poison to the American people for a century, lied about it, made billions of dollars, created millions of addicts, millions of sick people and caused us addicts to pay a "sin tax". I still can't figure out how I committed a sin by becoming addicted to cigarettes when I was 13, years before the Surgeon General's report even came out

[Skittles]

19. Cappurr

I became addicted to cigs at age 13 too, well before the warnings. After 30 years I used the patch and quit. Come on, you know they're no good. You know you can do it. You've seen the ex-smoker's threads on the DU - you'll get lots of support. Try it! :D


I definitely am not one of those rabid ex-smokers. Indeed, I still LOVE the smell of tobacco. It's just that - well, you just know it's no good. I do want what's best for you Cap; if I didn't care I wouldn't mention it.

[prolesunited]

3. I don't think there are such a thing

You should stop anyway to protect your health. As an added bonus, you can get even with the GOP-supporting tobacco industry by living longer to support liberal causes. It's possible. I smoked for 20 years and am now 18 months smoke free.

[Cappurr]

6. Ugh...

Ex-smokers. They are the worst. Sorta like newly saved Christians.

(Hope you know I'm kidding). But smoking is not easy to quit (as I'm sure you know) and many, many people I know have stopped for long periods of time only to go back to it. They say that even after they stop, they miss a cigarette every day of their lives.

I'm no wimp either. I stopped drinking in 1990 after twenty five years of alcoholic drinking. But tobacco is much harder. I never even think about a drink. Matter of fact, can't stand the smell of the stuff.

[prolesunited]

11. I really am not like that

He opened the door with his question. I don't go around harping on people, all kidding aside.

I know it's tough. I recall reading that the recidivism rates for tobacco use are even higher that for heroin. Those are pretty tough odds. I started smoking in my early teens to fit in with an older crowd and both of my parents smoked. I never even imagined myself as a non-smoker.

Then, I started developing allergy-induced asthma, a condition that the smoking just aggravated. That scared the shit out of me and I started picturing a future where I was literally gasping for air.

I would say I had very intense cravings at first, but they've since gone away. And just like you with alcohol, I can't stand the smell of tobacco smoke.

And, yes, there might be a touch of evangelism with new ex-smokers. Although getting to this point was hard as hell, I can't believe how great I feel now and yes, that is something you want to share with others. But only if asked.

[Cappurr]

16. Well....

Maybe I'll try again. Health issues aside, it is getting really damned expensive.

I quite once for 20 days. And the one thing I really noticed (besides wanting a cigarette, of course) was this anger that just came bubbling out of me. I mean, I was Pissed. I screamed at my daughter on the phone and brought her to tears for no reason at all. I was just one bundle of anger. And that bothered me.

[prolesunited]

17. Cost is definitely another factor

With the money I saved, I'm able to purchase subscriptions to progressive magazines, donate to liberal candidates and support sites such as DU.

I did it cold turkey, but if the anxiety and irritability is an issue, you might want to check with your doctor about a prescription for Zyban, which is mild dose of Wellbutrin. That would probably help balance out some of the rough spots.

I think in 20 days, you experienced all of the pain but none of the rewards. If you can hold out for about 60 days, you'll be amazed by the differences in breathing, sleeping, smelling and tasting and the intense cravings were all but gone by then.

[Spider Jerusalem]

26. Yeah...

the coffin nails are a bitch to put down. Cravings can apparently continue for DECADES after one quits. Apparently part of the reason they're so fucking addictive is that nicotine bonds to the same receptor sites in the brain as the neurochemical that's released upon natural relief from anxiety. So that's why having a smoke can feel so good...you feel relieved, even if you have no stress or tension (and going without can cause unbelievable stress and tension, in my experience...)

[devilgrrl]

4. American Spirit Ultra-Light

:smoke:

[alfredo]

5. Toledo Windowbox

Oh, you are talking about tobacco!

[ewagner]

7. Pipe smoker for over 30 years (since college)

ok....let the jokes begin...I prefer Prince Albert in a pouch...

to my credit I used to prefer Union Leader but can't get it anymore.

[Girlfriday]

8. Winstons

All cigarette manufacturers are evil, so I don't think it matters whose I smoke.

BTW, I have a theory. I know it's good to quit, but I have noticed something disturbing; people who quit relatively late in life tend to die of lung cancer. My father for one, and numerous others. It's almost as though as soon as your lungs clear a little, the increased oxygen grows cancer cells. On the other hand, my mother who has smoked like a chimney for 50 years, clean as a whistle; go figure. At any rate, I'm past the point of no return. :(

[LynneSin]

25. You are NEVER past the point of "No Return"

That's just what the tobacco industry wants you to believe. I have more smoking related horror stories in my family including a father who died at age 41 and an uncle who lost part of his tongue & jaw to smoking related illnesses.

Talk to your doctor, they have the medicines that help out with the cravings. Folks have had sucess with the patches. But never EVER think you're "Beyond the point of no return". The only time you're at that point is when you're in your casket. And I know you have many many many good years left in you!

[DCDemo]

9. Dunhills

Why not pay extra to get Virginia grown tobacco!

LOL

[Nicholas_J]

10. Gauloise

Since the Anti-French thing started.

Vive La France.

Vive Quebec

Vive Quebec Libre

(Jeeze watching too many old News Clips of De Gaulle lately)

[THUNDER HANDS]

12. whatever's cheapest

Right now it's USA Gold menthol's. I can get a carton for $30 near me, which is a pretty good deal for NY.

Usually I buy a double pack of Doral's for $5.25

[Aristus]

13. No.

Why should I pay a billion-dollar corporation for the priviledge of poisoning me to death?

[tridim]

14. Camel Lights

about 10 a day and I'm teetering on the edge of quitting, again. I'm a joker, I'm a smoker, I'm a midnight toker. :smoke:

[xJlM]

15. Camels

The regular, non-filter kind. I can get away with smoking about five of them a day, half a cigarette or less. A pack lasts three days or more, and if I have to I can go twelve hours (or longer) without one.

[Mikimouse]

21. Same here, though I did quit for about 6 months in 1997

but I got tired of feeling like pulling the arms off of my colleagues while laughing hysterically! I am also still trying to lose the consolation prize I got for quitting; 65 lbs of unwanted weight (those 3AM shopping trips for ice cream are a real pain in the ass!):hippie:

[youngred]

18. Occasionally

I smoke about 2 cigarettes a week and Marlboro lights

[Don_G]

20. WAVE

It's kind of an off-brand made by Japan Tobacco. The first time I tried them, I thought they were a lot like Marlboros'. It wasn't until later that I read that JT is under contract to make Marlboros for the Asian market and export them here as the Wave brand.

...and they're $12.67 per carton here.

[damnraddem]

22. Only when I think about Dubya.

I wouldn't hurt my lungs by inhaling tobacco, however.

I used to be a smoker when I was in college -- one pack a year: half a pack during finals. By spring finals, those cigarettes were DRY.

[SaintLouisBlues]

23. Kentucky's Best

No chemicals, family farmers. Check it out: http://www.farmerstobacco.com/home.html

[sexybomber]

27. No, but I'm a joker and a midnight toker

:smoke:

[Spider Jerusalem]

28. Camel Lights most of the time...

pure Turkish cigarettes on occasion (for those, I make my own with a cigarette injection machine. And I can get straight Turkish tobacco for uinder $20 a pound. Excellent stuff, especially with a cup iof good coffee.)

[LadeJarl]

29. Newport 100's

and various forms of ummmm... whatchamacallit... homegrown maybe?