Is it true....: ... that it just takes one... - No Smoking Day

No Smoking Day

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Is it true....

nsd_user663_3828 profile image
7 Replies

... that it just takes one puff to be a 100% relapsed addict again.... I find that hard to believe... Sorry... but someone please enlighten me..... So one puff reverts you back to 3-4 day nicotine PHYSICAL withdrawl position? Is that what we are saying? I don't recall how long it took me to relapse last time, but I am pretty sure it was more than 1 puff...

Insights?

The Law of Addiction

"Administration of a drug to an addict will cause reestablishment

of chemical dependence upon the addictive substance."

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nsd_user663_3828
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7 Replies
NicFirth profile image
NicFirth10 Years Smoke Free

Some years ago I quit for several months,

one day I though "well I should be over the addiction now, and knew that I had some rizzlas and old fag butts in the car, I was pi$$ed off and made a rollie from the dregs of some old smokes.

I smoked it and 2 hours later I bought a tin of Cafe Creme cigars within the week I was on 5 cigs a day, then 10, then 15 and I wavered between 15 and 20 until now, albeit with numerous odd weeks or fortnight abstentions there after. Every quit where I thought I could sneak the odd puff here and there failed, and whether its absolutely true, it certainly seems to me that 1 puff has always dragged me back to being a smoker maybe its that if you do you have psychologically accepted that you will smoke again so you get on with it.

nsd_user663_3828 profile image
nsd_user663_3828

Good insight...

thanks... appreciate it...

Just trying to get a feel for why a friend of mine started again after an 11 year quit... that's right 11 years... unreal.....

NicFirth profile image
NicFirth10 Years Smoke Free

He probably spent years thinking he was depriving himself of the "pleasure!"

But there is no real pleasure only feeding of addiction, ridding on self of concept that smoking is some how an enjoyable experience like having a beer or a nice meal or sex is IMHO the goal, or you end up feeling like bitter and miserable.

nsd_user663_3849 profile image
nsd_user663_3849

I agree BB (crikey!) - one puff/one ciggie doesn't have to put you back to day 1 - it is a blip, and that's all a blip.

HOWEVER - I have quit for nearly 5 years before now. I thought I was well and truly cured of my addiction so when I split from a long-term partner I thought I would have a ciggie because it might make me feel better!

I didn't smoke another one for a couple of weeks then I thought - well I smoked one a couple of weeks ago and it didn't make me an addict so I can have another one tonight with a drink (with smoking friends).

Another week went by before I had an excuse for another, then it was another couple of days before I had another.

Then I thought - I'll just smoke a couple in the evenings.

Then I thought I'd limit myself to no more than 5 a day.

See? Within 4 or 5 weeks, I was back to smoking 10 a day.

One puff gives you the excuse to do that again - just once!

Non-smokers don't smoke - not even one puff.

nsd_user663_3633 profile image
nsd_user663_3633

I have no wish to start an argument, but the fact is that 98% of quitters who have "just one" go back to their previous level of consumption inside a month.

I'm not saying it's not possible to have just 1 puff, or even 1 cigarette and then continue a quit because if only 98% go back, patently it IS possible. For 2% of people who "blip".

However, my view is very black and white.

I have quit smoking. Therefore, if I smoke I have failed.

I have no desire to take the sort of risk it takes to see if I am one of 2%. Especially since I have gone back numerous times before.... the first time after 9 months quit and "just one" cigarette.

That's my view on my quit - but I have no desire to argue with anyone about it. You want "just one", then go for it... entirely up to you. Do I think it's possible? Maybe for you.... certainly not for me.

nsd_user663_3828 profile image
nsd_user663_3828

Excellent insights one and all

thank you.... I have no intentions of going back to becoming a smoker... was just trying to disspell some myths that stupid people at work have been trying to get into my head... MUCHO appreciato.....lol

P.S. I agree with the view that one does not mean you have failed... Otherwise... my strict workout routine would have also failed... a long time ago...

NicFirth profile image
NicFirth10 Years Smoke Free

So in summary,

It might or might not be true of you as a person so is it is IMHO not worth the risk.

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