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Comment by GekkePrutser | Hacker News Reader

Does anyone actually start smoking because they need nicotine? I've never heard that. It's always been peer pressure and only then do they get dependent on the nicotine.

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Nicotine is a mild stimulant and we have practically built a society in which stimulant use is nearly essential (see caffeine for example)

Hmm yes but I don't believe people willingly pick nicotine to deal with that.

Most of us just grab an espresso. It's the people that were already smoking that go for the nicotine.

And if it were that harmless, why wouldn't they put it in drinks?

For non-office workers it's not always convenient to make coffee while you work, so perhaps that's the difference. And to be clear, I don't think it's harmless (but I think the degree to which it is more harmful than caffeine, if you exclude the non-nicotine-related harms of smoking cigarettes, is probably exaggerated)

I started smoking because my housemates did and continued due to the hunger suppression and the nicotine hit. I also drink coffee, it's not the same rush.

Nicotine self medicates for a bunch of reasons. It may even be beneficial for certain neurodegenerative conditions. While the answer is, let people use "real" medicines, or safer forms, remember people themselves know all the reasons why something like a cigarette is the best choice for them personally, much better than some overall one-size-fits-all prohibition for everyone. I'm pretty sick of some people trying to control others. If you don't like smoking don't smoke. If you fear the health consequences, don't smoke, even warn others. But who are you to control what others do with their bodies? (enter public healthcare - which is why socialised anything is incompatible with individual liberty)

Have you ever worked in a high-stress physical labor job?

Good point. What are they going to do to make me look cool then? Vaping (especially in cooler weather) looks ridiculous.

I recently started smoking again because of I've been under a lot of stress, and I can tell you, I'm already feeling like the Marlboro cowboy again.

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