Philip Morris CEO: Yes, Cigarettes Are Harmful, But ‘It’s Not That Hard to Quit’
- Posted on May 11, 2011 at 9:31pm by
Emily Esfahani Smith
- Print »
- Email »
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The head of cigarette maker Philip Morris International Inc. told a cancer nurse Wednesday that while cigarettes are harmful and addictive, it is not that hard to quit.
CEO Louis C. Camilleri’s statement was in response to comments at its annual shareholder meeting in New York. Executives from the seller of Marlboro and other brands overseas spent most of the gathering sparring with members of anti-tobacco and other corporate accountability groups.
The nurse, later identified as Elisabeth Gundersen from the University of California-San Francisco, cited statistics that tobacco use kills more than 400,000 Americans and 5 million people worldwide each year. She is a member of The Nightingales Nurses, an activist group that works to focus public attention on the tobacco industry.
Gundersen also said a patient told her last week that of all the addictions he’s beaten – crack, cocaine, meth – cigarettes have been the most difficult.
In response, the often-unapologetic Camilleri said: “We take our responsibility very seriously, and I don’t think we get enough recognition for the efforts we make to ensure that there is effective worldwide regulation of a product that is harmful and that is addictive. Nevertheless, whilst it is addictive, it is not that hard to quit. … There are more previous smokers in America today than current smokers.”
Camilleri is a longtime smoker. An April 2009 BusinessWeek article quoted him as saying he had quit only once, for three months when he had a cold. Following Wednesday’s meeting, the company reiterated its position that “tobacco products are addictive and harmful.”
Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids said the comments represent the “most irresponsible form of corporate double-speak.”
“Study after study has documented the powerful addiction to cigarettes is one of the most difficult to overcome of any drug anywhere in the world,” Myers said. “It is stunning in the face of overwhelming science for the leader of the world’s largest private tobacco company to deny how difficult and addictive cigarettes are.”
Morningstar analyst Philip Gorham said addictiveness is why tobacco is such a profitable business.
“It‘s in the interest of executives to give the impression that they don’t want new smokers to take up smoking, that they believe that people who do, can quit, but the statistics tell another story,” Gorham said.
There are more 1 billion tobacco users in the world, according to the World Health Organization. While global figures are not widely available, the U.S. Public Health Service says about 45 percent of U.S. smokers try to quit each year, and only 4 to 7 percent of them are successful.
During the meeting, Camilleri also discussed the challenges facing the tobacco industry like tax hikes and regulation, including bans on product displays, ingredients and colorful packaging. He said some of these restrictions impede competition, add costs for retailers, encourage adult smokers to make choices purely on price and foster black markets.
He also said Philip Morris International has successfully managed regulation in the past such as public smoking restrictions, marketing constraints and graphic warning labels.
“In fact, we have largely supported these measures within the framework of comprehensive, effective, and uniform tobacco regulation,” Camilleri said. “We do not, however, support regulation that prevents adults from buying and using tobacco products, or that imposes unnecessary impediments to the operation of the legitimate tobacco market.”
Last year, Philip Morris International saw its profit grow 14.5 percent as its net revenue excluding excise taxes rose 8.7 percent. The company has raised prices and focused on emerging markets for growth as cigarette demand falls.
Philip Morris International, with offices in New York and Lausanne, Switzerland, was spun off from Richmond, Va.-based Altria in March 2008. Altria still sells Marlboro and other Philip Morris brands in the U.S.
Philip Morris International is the world’s largest non-governmental cigarette seller, smaller only than state-controlled China National Tobacco Corp.
Popular Stories
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 575 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 404 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 403 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 372 Comments
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 342 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 403 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 404 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 342 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 150 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 302 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 403 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (67)
historypaper
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 3:22pmHow can you destroy America? The Obama sabotage methods include mob rule, a corrupt department of justice, voter fraud and a whole waterfall of lies available for the destruction of America.
Report Post »Sugar costs too much.
Factory jobs are gone.
A pack of cigarettes costs a lot more than expensive gasoline.
Obama has been mixing his agenda and lies together and the dam is about to break.
I watched a man strike a match to a cigarette the other day and wondered why he didn’t use modern butane lighter?
“Some places still give you free matches” was his only response.
The man walked off and hurried away. I learned later that he was the owner of the small business on the corner and he always gave away those ordinary pack of matches.
elosogrande
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 3:00pmI smoked three packs a day for years and quite because I had to quite. Take a look at what cigarettes do to you versus how much you enjoy smoking and make a decision. If you want to, you can just quit.
You may be convinced that your medically adicted and can’t quit, but that’s not true. You quit and go back for one of two reasons. You‘re either mentally deficient or you’re just stupid. Cut the excuses, cut the crap – just stop smoking.
Report Post »Curtis
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:42pmBurn every tobacco farm. Confiscate every pack from every store and vending machine.
Do this BEFORE you tell me how to live my life for even 2 sec’s. I won’t try to stop you. Good Luck.
Report Post »Gorp
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:39pmI’ve been smoking since I was around 13 years old. I will be 65(in July) and have no intention of quitting. I don’t want to quit. I enjoy smoking. And I figure Screw Anyone who doesn’t like the fact that I smoke. If you don’t like it then hold your breath until you are out of range. There are plenty of other “real” things to bitch about. Leave my cigs and me alone.
I just lit another and it tastes great!
Report Post »Bonnieblue2A
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:27pmHey Camarelli, I ost both my parents to lung cancer and they both smoked Phillip Morris products. F-U!
Report Post »Firebirdman
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:03pmWhile drinking and smoking go together REALLY well, you can do one without the other. I quit smoking over 4 years ago and haven’t missed it, but I still love my beer. Hey, ya gotta do SOMETHING these days to relax…
Report Post »Hephzibah
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 9:57amIt’s easy to quit after you watch a family member die from lung cancer. Back before there were Big Brother-mandated warnings everywhere, they were called “coffin nails”. People knew. I knew. I just did it anyway because I was a smart-aleck teenager who thought I was invincible.
The thing that disgusts me is the media double standard…Obama smoking gets no media attention whatsoever. Reports of him quitting are as unbelievable as anything else from this White House. One doesn’t take on the most stressful job in the world to quit smoking. And furthermore, I don’t believe The One would step outside to have one, either, any more than Clinton would take it elsewhere.
Report Post »illuminoddy
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 10:03amtheres far more than smoking in the white house going on..
probably been lighting ‘blunts” and ‘tokin reefer up in there’ as well
not to mention the hoochie mamas
the white house is going to have to be burnt, or at least the parts where the black hoodies “chiilled”
Report Post »attleboro
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 10:24amBased on your suspicions, I suppose?
Report Post »Bhaub
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 10:40amYou make a good point. Since I’ve never seen him smoking, I’m certain he smokes. The Blaze is full of genius. :)
Report Post »dizzyinthedark
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 7:56pmYou mean they are smokin doobies up der in da houz! Doob time ya’ll!
Report Post »GENEPAGLIARI
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 8:32amTobacco has claimed the lives of my maternal grandfather, my mother, my dad, my brother and is about to kill my youngest sister. I’ve been quit about twelve years and am monitored closely for any signs of lung cancer. Quitting nicotine was the hardest thing i have ever done. So do not believe this man. He and his family will get rich by addicting you to their product.
Report Post »lynnhavenfl
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 8:16amI don’t think this guy smokes. I quit smoking back in 1972 because the Air Force was going to discharge me if I didn’t. I had some lung problems and it was affecting my duty performance. I quit cold turkey. They gave me oxygen therapy for about a month. That helped open my lungs some. But the craving was the hardest thing to fight. It was about two years before I really didn’t care if I had a smoke or not. Here is what I learned though. To quit, you must want to quit. If you don’t have a good reason to quit besides the medical aspect, you will probably fail. My incentive was the fact that I would lose a great job and adiquate pay. Even today I get an urge to have a smoke when I get into really stressful situations. Smoking would surely kill me today because if my heart problems. Is quitting easy. It depends on what is considered easy. My thought is like anything else, ease is arbitrary to who is quitting. I say that quitting smoking will really test your will power.
Report Post »neozon
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 8:12amNow that he has admitted to selling a harmful product, isn’t it his moral obligation to stop selling it. I’m not calling for it to be illegal. But, there it is from the CEO’s mouth, acknowledging his products are destructive to the human organisms. So, he knowingly makes a profit on the suffering of other human. Pitiful, he is a loser with that statement.
Report Post »APatriotFirst
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 6:33amilluminoddy
***100% of smokers drink***
You are an idiot! I smoke, have since 1961 BUT I have never had a drink of alcohol in my life. But I think alcohol would be easier to stop than cigs. I have tried. Hypnosis worked once but then began the cigs again.
Report Post »illuminoddy
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 6:50amriiiiggghhhtt…
a smoker who ‘never had a drink of alcohol in his life’
stop pulling my chain..
unbelievable..
100% of pigs cannot fly..
i suppose you have a story to tell me about that too
Report Post »illuminoddy
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 5:56amthis story completely disappeared off the Blaze frontpage or stories section
it seems stories with thread comments nor glorifying capitalism get buried
agenda.
just imagining your own truth
Report Post »Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 2:33amCan anyone tell me how to keep those stupid patches lit??
Report Post »Rayblue
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 12:11amStarted smoking at Christmas, 1984, alone in an efficiency apt. in Houston.
Report Post »A lady cop gave me a pack as a present.
I gave her a ride on my Motobecane.
Rayblue
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 12:14amQuit in 2001 after the first attack.
Report Post »Smoking is not worth the trouble.
Dougral
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 12:05amI had a very hard time quitting but I don’t blame the cigarette companies for that. It was my weakness that caused me to start and I had to muster up the will to quit. Tobacco is a legal product and if some enjoy it, so be it. A little vice is better than a lot of government control.
Report Post »attleboro
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 10:23amIt ties into the health care debate, though. When my tax dollars are paying for people who slowly die from the effects of smoking, I have a real problem with smokers. I have my own moral opinions on the subject, but this is what gets to me the most.
Report Post »lonewolf57
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:49pmIf you smoke tobacco,enjoy it.The stigma is a lie.Its your life!
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:31pmya, no one forced you to start smoking so deal with it.
im a smoker, and have tried to quit multiple times, but never has it crossed my mind to blame someone else for the choice i made on my own .
its what we call personal choice, which is followed by personal responsibility…………a part of the equation many fail to recognize
Report Post »illuminoddy
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 12:35amyes, but if heroine was widely advertised and targetin youth and heroine was widely pushed into the media, you may blame yourself, but a more non-self-loathing, more NPOV would see there is a bigger demon behind your addiction, and the end of your life
were smoking illegal, you would then have only yourself to blame for something that is killing you and everyone unfortunate to be within 50 yards of you
you can blame yourself for their deaths too, while you are at it
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:20am@ illumi NUTTY
blame myself for whose deaths???
and taking responsibility for your own choices and actions is not blaming yourself……………unlike you and your simple mind , the choices i make are not the fault of others
typical lib troll………………..its ALWAYS someone elses fault
i bet you blame everyone else for your faults too ………probably started when you were a kid and didnt get your way…………i bet you stomped your feet and threw a fit too
Report Post »illuminoddy
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:47am@ Nose-bleeding Psychosis
I stated that while you are in your little self-loathing state of masochistic-blame, that you should in fact also blame yourself for the countless lives of others your smoking has caused to them as much or far more than the pathetic set of lungs you’re toting around
You are to blame for lacking intelligence and comprehension, and for the the little tar sacks your swinging
but leave your ego out of this.. nobody care about u, least of all me
this is about the tobacco industry and their tireless efforts to kill americans at any cost
they are worse than muslim terrorists, and are Ubama Bin Ladens favorite people in America, next to Barak Usama himself
Cigarette containing Nicotine should be classified as an illegal narcotic
your poor education wilted tar sacks should serve as an example of why the tobacco companies should be forced out of business
what if asbestos was addictive?
you’d be smoking that too clown
you were just a clown after a cheap legal high, and who isnt happy with free, over-the-counter, strongly addictive narcotics? but its not the United States of Amsterdam, sadly for u
try cough syrup or glue for your cheap high instead buddy
point is, its as addictive as heroine, and is extremely difficult to quit, and it is legal
in fact, whether your little guilt-trip will allow u to comprehend it.. you are a victim of high-level corporate-political corruption
a tool
end of story
Report Post »illuminoddy
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 1:53amTobacco companies have paid billions over most of the last century to Politicians and Law Makers at Local, State and Government levels to get you addicted to their heroine, and most people who are addicted to Nicotine became addicted before they were legally old enough to buy cigarettes
they have essentially been able to keep a drug as strong as heroine legal in America, long after it was finally learned how damaging and dangerous it actually was. and in fact, What Nicotine itself actually was..
blame yourself clown.. so that you can effectively continue to keep heroine on the streets and in the hands of children
Report Post »illuminoddy
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 2:04amin fact, your first drag of a cigarette is your first serious narcotic use, and your first experience with the effects of hard drugs, and your first experience with hard-drug addiction
everyone who remembers their first drag of a cigarette also knows exactly what its like to do your first line of cocaine, or smoke your first crack, or mainline your first heroine
and they know the need for more the same as all addicts do, and they know the need for increased amounts and increased frequencies the same as all addicts of all hard drugs do
and anyone who has had their first coffee knows a similar experience, and their first espresso, and their first triple espresso, and their first 5 drinks with 6-shots of espresso each.. and its exactly like the hardest of any drugs, and the highest of any highs..
Report Post »illuminoddy
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 2:12amAlcohol, Nicotine, and Caffeine should be illegal in America
and if they arent illegal, then crack, heroine, cocaine, PCP, and marijuana should all be legal..
then we can really blame the individuals
Report Post »illuminoddy
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 2:25amI know.. lets make crack, heroine, cocaine, PCP, and marijuana all legal, and run by private corporations, then lets let them target our kids in advertisements, and make it widely accepted in american society.. Just so we can turn around call them all fools and lay all the blame on them.. and take no responsibility as corrupt citizens of a corrupt nation, society, and government
we wouldnt be to blame.. afterall..
neither would the government neither would the narcotic companies paying the government, and running the trillion dollar campaigns
our kids would all be to blame themselves.. hehe. the fools!
Report Post »illuminoddy
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 2:56amthis is americas problem.. lack of cultural accountability
America began with full accountability, to one cause, one banner, one culture, a common belief, common ancestry etc
today, people simply dont care that their actions destroy families and lives, so long as they are free to turn a profit, the quasi-american way
that brings us back to capitalism as the culprit doctrine of self over all, and self interest and profit above all other concerns
most other countries actually care for their posterity, if you can believe that.. they dont support or foster or harbor ideas which allow an individuals freedom at the expense of a nations, because the nation is their culture is their future is their identity is their existence
they care for the people around them, and dont allow private corporate interests to destroy the welfare, health, well-being, and lives of the brothers and sisters who are their countrymen
america, by stark contrast, sees its fellow citizens as enemies and people to lie to, deceive, subdue, usurp, beguile, oppress, belittle, trick, fool, cheat, and bring down to their death for their own monetary freedoms which is the american capitalist ideal
Report Post »one yrs. food ration like Glenn says..
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 4:29pmIlliminoddy… # 1 Smoking is enjoyable BECAUSE OF THE TASTE I like the TASTE thats why there are different kinds of cigs, dope. # 2 It’s HEROIN without an E, fool. and #3 50 yards away ?? You’re one of those mental libs that scream at someone if they light an E- cigarette with in eye shot of you.. You are a dope, period..
Report Post »Czar Casm
Posted on May 13, 2011 at 3:59pmAluminumBody, You’ve been duped my freind. By the way, those other countries that “care” so much about their populace, also manufacture and sell cigarettes. And some of those companies are state owned. So using your hyperbolic reasoning those socialistic states are only in existence because it “sees its fellow citizens as enemies and people to lie to, deceive, subdue, usurp, beguile, oppress, belittle, trick, fool, cheat, and bring down to their death for their own monetary freedoms which is the“ european socialist ”ideal”
Report Post »illuminoddy
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:28pmhe’s never quitt
quitting tobacco is like an alcoholic quitting alcohol
its a life-long struggle, and takes extreme vigilance, and will also require you to quite alcohol, and a host of other social activities as well
there are two kinds of smokers, the impoverishedly uneducated, and the addicted who cant quit
Report Post »the_ancient
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:34pmWow that is so ignorant I dont even know where to begin
I know many former smokers who still drink, I know many drinkers who never smoked, hell I know pot heads that have never smoked tobacco.
and I know smokers who smoke because they enjoy the activity, they are neither impoverished or uneducated, and knowing them the way I do I am equally sure should they have the desire to quit they could, easily.
Everyone has vices, to Some it is scotch, to some beer, to some candy, to some sky diving, to some cigars, to some cigarettes,
None is worse than any of the others, and it is all a personal choice
Report Post »illuminoddy
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 12:30amwell..lets “begin” with your inability to clearly understand facts
such as telling me what does‘ drinkers who have never smoked’ have to do with anything regarding smoking?
anyone who “enjoys the activity” of smoking does so in the saame way heroine users “enjoy the activity” of heroine, specifically “enjoying” the drug they are addicted to entering their bodies
do u know anyone who “enjoys smoking flowers”?
no, you dont. because smoking isnt enjoyable, only the nicotine is enjoyable
there are two smokers int he world, the impoverishedly uneducated, which america doesnt have many of
and the addicted
and none other
regardless of whether or not the addicts “enjoy” getting the drug their bodies physically cannot function with out
and sure, all crack and heroine addicts “can quit whenever they want” too
but the point is that the would then not be a user.
thus, leaving the 2 categories, and the categories only
drinking to the point of drunkeness negates the ex-smokers will power.
100% of all smokers drink
and there are no “ex smokers” who still regularly drink, who have quit for say a period of at lest 7 years
Report Post »POdVet
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 3:31pmI have to disagree with you here. You say that 100% of smokers drink. That just is not true. I have not consumed any alcohol not even from cough medicine in years. But I do smoke. My father was and two brothers are alcoholics. But as some others have stated, these things hit people differently, even in the same family. One of my brothers smokes, drinks, and does drugs. The other drinks, but does not smoke. I smoke but do not drink. I have tried quitting, but it is not easy for me. I personally get very irritable when I try, to the point where my wife who does not smoke or drink. Has literally thrown a pack of cigarettes at me and said LIGHT ONE! I now roll my own so my vice costs only about $15 per week. Now if the tobacco companies really wanted to help people quit smoking as they claim. They should probably stop manipulating and artificially increasing the level of nicotine in their tobacco. I suspect that is the only way I will be able to quit since I most certainly can NOT afford the gums and other products.
Report Post »Patriot Z
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:27pmquiting isnt that hard. it took me 1 week cold turkey to quit a 2 pack a day habit i had over 10 yrs. the only reason peeps want to make a big deal obout it is because they are embarrased over their own weakness. they need a “big____” bad guy to pretend that its not their fault. nobody is saying smoking is good for you, for god sakes yer sticking a tube of leaves in your mouth, setting it on fire and inhailing. why would anyone think that thats not gonna hurt them after awhile? but peeps have known its causes cancer for decades now and people still do it. not just continue but start as well. so we know its bad and still do it. The era of “big tobacco” being to blame and “tricking poor innocent people” is overwith along time ago. if ya wanna smoke…smoke. if not, then quit and quit being a B1tch about it.
Report Post »lonewolf57
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:25pmBend over Louis.Everyone is getting a piece of you.From politicians to Nazi’s,Grow a pair and tell The American Lung Association to **ck off.Until tobacco is banned,they are all your whores.:)
! like Camels and Lucky Strikes myself!
Report Post »BHAMCONSERVATIVE
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:25pmBoo hoo. Anyone who claims they don’t know the risks of smoking before they start is either a liar or a fool. Its right there on the pack! If you don’t like it, don’t smoke!
Report Post »ginsberg
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:38pmYou are so wrong, a 10 year old has no idea how harmful smoking is, and cigs have been marketed to kids for decades.
Report Post »walkwithme1966
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:58pmYou are wrong – 40 years ago when I started there were no warning on the packages.
Report Post »http://wp.me/pYLB7-Xr
freedom1974
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 8:22amI agree with you on that! I think I will light one up(like sayin,“cheers” to you), as for the other poster about a 10 year old taking up the habit, can I ask the question, where dose he get the money, or the supply of it to be addicted? Your right though about 10 year olds. should wait until 11 or 12! I will smoke one for your comment to, because I can, and it makes me feel good! Might smoke another just to say I can. I realy don’t smoke, but people who take freedoms away from their own choices might make me change my ways. Any suggestions on which brand to buy first?
Report Post »boxy
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 4:45pm@freedom1974
Report Post »Amen to that brother. Them taking my right to smoke away makes me want to smoke more.
dizzyinthedark
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 7:44pmMy gram was a Pall Mall chain smoker. As kids we heard often how smoking was bad so we grew up knowing smoking was bad! I hated the smell, made me sick and nauseous. For some dumb reason I took up smoking! I was a pack a week person for 20 years. Then one day decided time to quite before I do damage and that’s all she wrote! Kids know, my kids grew up around me smoking, I told them it’s bad, my son wouldn’t shut up about it so I shoved one in his mouth and told him to inhale real deep. Choked him up real bad. He shut his mouth with his questions about what is it like to smoke cigarettes. To this day he doesn’t smoke! He never forgot that one.
Report Post »Captain Crunch
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:20pmHe’s right. There are more people who have quit than continue to smoke. Most of them are dead.
Report Post »Affirmative Blaction
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:19pmHey! The only reason that guy was able to quit crack is because he had a cig to wing onto. Go into any drug rehab, or AA meeting and everyone is chain smoking like a frieght train, smoking saves lives.(slightly sarcastic, more a mockery intended for Big Gov)
Report Post »the_ancient
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:28pmActually Smoking does directly save lives, The government has engineered that way, Most of the States have Medical Programs that are funded in large part by Tobacco Taxations, so with out smokers funding those programs, according to the liberals anyway, little Billie would DIE!!!!!
Report Post »princessnutsack
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:14pmI agree, I found quitting easy, if you can‘t do it it’s because you don’t really want to. Losing weight is MUCH harder. I’ve done both.
Report Post »Affirmative Blaction
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:20pmNice name, does it hold true meaning?
Report Post »BHAMCONSERVATIVE
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:22pmI agree. I quit smoking after about five or six years, cold turkey. And yes, losing weight is much harder!
Report Post »OLDBIKEFIXER
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 9:44amAccording to long-time drug abuser and addict (he recorded a few songs, too) Ozzie Osbourne, quitting heroin was much easier than quitting cigarettes.
As someone who has tried to quit smoking many times and failed, I can attest to the fact that it’s more than just a matter of will power. The fact that cigarettes are so easy to get makes it that much more difficult.
If the government was truly concerned about our health, they could simply outlaw tobacco products, and be done with the whole mess. But with all the taxes they‘re making from other people’s addictions, that will never happen.
Report Post »princessnutsack
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 10:18am@ oldbikefixer,
I had a decade long cocaine abuse issue, and for 2 of those years it was dependence issue…..quitting smoking was the easiest of my vices to quit. I’m still workin on that alcohol one though.
Report Post »Bhaub
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 10:39amYou should ask Beck how he quit being an alcoholic, but he’ll probably just say Jesus or something.
Report Post »the_ancient
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:13pmDifferent People react Differently to substances, for some people it is very easy to quit, for others it is near impossible.
My Father, just quit after smoking for 25+ years, just stopped, no gimmicks, no aids, no drugs, just choose not to smoke any more. His Sister (my aunt) tried every gimmicks from gum to hypnosis trying to stop, I cant remember want ended up helping her stop but she did need assistance.
The biggest thing I have here, it is should be a personal choice, and Phillip Morse, the growers or anyone else should not feel guilty about selling someone a product they want, even if that product is dangerous. Many Activities that people enjoy or directly or indirectly dangerous, like cigarettes it is a perfectly legal activity.
If people feel Tobacco is that dangerous maybe they should make a video explaining how Tobacco make people crazy and rapist and get it banned like they did with weed
Report Post »BIGJAYINPA
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:27pmSmoked for forty years, was up to three packs a day. Didn‘t want to quit but the wife kept nagging me about the cost so I said heck with it I’ll quit. Took Chantix for three months, been clean two years now and I still would like to light one, but I won’t. Filthy habit and costs too darn much so I won’t. I don’t blame anybody but me, I picked the nasty thing up and lit it, nobody forced me…Just sayin’
Report Post »jbl8199
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:32pmI got that Equate nicotine gum to quit smoking because nothing else worked. It’s half as much as Nicorette and about the same strength. I don‘t agree with them saying it’s not that hard to quit, because now I’m addicted to the gum, but at least I don’t have all that poison in my lungs.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:40pmI agree that addiction affects people differently. This is where HONEST use of statistics are useful. Nicotine is the most addictive substance according to the CDC.
I did NOT say destructive. There is a big difference.
I have been a smoker for forty one years. I have been clean & sober for nearly twenty four years. I decided there is nothing wrong what so ever with caffeine addiction, which I have been consuming for fifty years. cigs have been the monkey on my back. Don’t blame the manufacturers.
ON weight….. I have been on the FAARRrrr end of the spectrum; even with copious consumption. until I was thirty, I did not break one hundred and twenty pounds. I currently weigh in at one sixty and plan on dropping twenty in the next two months..
Report Post »ginsberg
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 11:42pmThe ancient, your father is one of the lucky ones who lived. Sorey to say smoking for 25 years shows no willpower. And yeah, you teabaggers can smoke it up dont cry about not getting a lung transplant or acooter from medicaid when your insurance drops you.
Report Post »thepatriotdave
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 12:34amBoth the wife and myself quit cold-turkey. She quit over 7 years ago. I quit a little over 2 1/2 years ago. Both of us agreed the first week is the hardest, then as an incentive after that… we put out numerous pictures of our kids and grandkids around the house to remind us why we need to stick around longer.
Here’s a helpful hint for those of you that want to quit… Wait until you get a really bad flu, or catch a virus that hits you hard, thats when you throw the cigs away and don’t look back. The idea being… most people don‘t want to smoke when they are really ill and won’t light up until they are on the road to recovery. It makes the transition much easier if you go cold-turkey.
http://www.AmericasTeaPartyNews.com
Report Post »randy
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 12:51amI told myself a year ago last January that once cigarettes reach 7 dollars a pack, I was quitting.
Report Post »Quit cold Turkey on Jan 15th 2010. Don’t miss them at all. And I really do enjoy the extra spending money :)
ReddenBlack
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 10:06amIt sounds like you teabaggers should be in favor of legalizing marijuana and cocaine and heroin.
“They shouldn’t feel guilty about selling someone something they want.”
I agree, so if that’s the case, how is pot different from tobacco? They are both plants that grow naturally, both produce pleasurable psychological effects when dried and burned.
When teabaggers start advocating the legalization of all recreational drugs, that’s when they will be taken seriously
Report Post »Sinista MACE
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 10:24amI quit ciggs in 2000, cold turkey. Best decision.
The smoke from them smells so toxic to me now that I cannot bear it. It’s like burning plastic and sugar mixed together with menthol. UGH.
Report Post »Code_Orange
Posted on May 13, 2011 at 7:42amMany smokers are latent male homosexuals, and after they give up sucking the tobacco, they tend to begin performing male to male replacement activities. They are ashamed so nobody is actually sure how prevalent this is, but the council of churches in my area is aware of it. This is why many churches allow smoking at their after church gatherings and Sunday schools.
Report Post »Sinista MACE
Posted on May 13, 2011 at 9:55amCode_Orange
….
…..I just fell over out of my chair reading that comment.
Report Post »