Social Smoking

You probably never planned to become a full-fledged smoker. Maybe you aren't... maybe you only smoke when you are with your friends or at a party. Well, you aren't the first, and you definitely won't be the last. But the nicotine in tobacco is addictive, What starts out as casual could easily end up a life-long problem.

What is it?
Smoking less than every day. A social smoker may smoke a few cigarettes one night, then not smoke for days or weeks afterward.

Why do people smoke socially?
Many people who smoke socially don't realize that occasional smoking can be harmful. They may not be aware of how easy it is to become addicted. If you are around people who smoke, you may be tempted to smoke too. It may seem like smoking makes social situations easier. But the risks are just not worth it.

I can't get addicted by smoking socially, can I?
The nicotine in tobacco is one of the most addictive drugs known. Some people can have an occasional cigarette and not become dependent on nicotine. But, it's easy to increase how much you smoke without even noticing. Once your body is addicted to nicotine, it's very hard to stop smoking. Most long-term smokers started out as social smokers and wish they could quit.

How can I tell if I am getting addicted?
Go through this checklist. You may be addicted if...

• You buy your own cigarettes because you feel guilty about bumming from friend so often.
• You start to smoke alone.
• You think about smoking when you're not.
• You crave cigarettes when you wake up.
• You don't feel the dissiness and headaches of a new smoker.

How can I avoid becoming addicted?

• If smoking gives you something to do at parties, try sipping a soft drink instead.
• If asking for a cigarette is how you talk to someone new, try asking if they like the music.
• If you are used to smoking with certain beverages, try ordering a different kind of drink to break the association.
• Hang out with a "quit buddy" or join a quit smoking group.

Tobacco Pipes and Hookas

Some people mistakenly believe that there is little or no risk in smoking tobacco from pipes. But this is no such thing as a safe way to smoke tobacco. Whether people use traditional tobacco pipes or water pipes called hookahs, they are still smoking tobacco and the health risks are real.

Pipes
Pipe smoke contains the same toxic mix of cancer-causing chemicals found in cigarette smoke. Pipe smokers have a higher risk of lip, tongue, mouth, larynx, and esophagus cancers, gum disease, and tooth loss than nonsmokers. They are also eight times more likely to develop lung cancer than nonsmokers.

Hookahs
A hookah (also called a narguileh, hubble bubble, shisha or water pipe) cools the smoke so it feels less harsh, but the water doesn't take away the chemicals in the tobacco. Regular hookah smokers have a higher rate of lip and gum cancer. When poeple smoke from hookahs, they often share mouthpieces. SHaring mouthpieces adds the risk of getting colds, viruses like herpes, oral baterial infections and tuberculosis.

Bidis, Cloves and Other Herbal Cigarettes

Bidis are small, filterless cigarettes. They come in a variety of flavors - such as mango, chocolate and mint. They are made fom tobacco - just like regular cigarettes, and they are just as dangerous. Bidis produce five times the cancer-causing tar that cigarettes produce. They cause heart disease, lung cancer, and, if smoked while pregnant, may cause miscarriage.

Spit Tobacco

Effects of chewing spit tobacco include stained teeth, bad breath, mouth cancer, and addiction to nicotine. To stop using spit tobacco, use the same steps as cigarettes. If you feel like putting some in your mouth, try chewing gum or a mint chew instead of tobacco.