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Comment by artfulhippo | Hacker News Reader

Smoking is clearly not healthy. But I wish the benefits of nicotine were more widely known and discussed.

I smoked from age 16 to 23 and now I'm 27. I've had cravings for the stimulation that I miss for the last 4 years. I expect to have them for the rest of my life.

As a teenager, smoking was mysterious and therefore attractive to me because everyone seemed to agree that it's bad. The benefits were a secret that I had to discover through first-hand experience.

I don't regret quitting smoking and I'm not planning on starting up again, but the "smoking is bad" messaging is not as clear-cut as it seems.

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You seem to have tackled the "little monster" of nicotene-directed urges but not the "big monster" of urges that come from the programming in your brain. You definitely should read the book mentioned in the other comment, The Easy Way to Stop Smoking, by Allen Carr. Time to take down the big monster.

I'm sorry, this book really doesn't speak to the reasons why I smoked (cognitive stimulation, social connection, a reason to take a break).

I'm glad it's help other people but it feels out-of-touch in exactly the way that I highlighted in my comment above: it demonizes cigarettes, describing the harms of nicotine without the benefits.

In many ways, nicotine is similar to amphetamines or caffeine. Adderall isn't healthy but people take it for a reason. It doesn't help anyone to pretend like it's totally irrational to consume addictive stimulants.

Interesting, the book worked for me, particularly because it did address reasons (that I thought I had) like cognitive stimulation, social connection, and taking a break.

I'd like to add; that I think that all of the stimulants mentioned above result in a net loss of energy and focus, even if the peaks are higher.

It's just like every other stimulant, be it cocaine or methamphetamine or caffeine or ecstasy. They all come at a cost, and if they're mild enough for you to use regularly you build up a tolerance and need it just to be at the same level you were without it.

I seem to be missing the point. What are the benefits of nicotine in your story, exactly?

Stimulation. Same reason people drink coffee and tea. Except for me, nicotine is way more effective.

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