Smoking and ER Poll

[REWahoo]

Been a lot on the news lately regarding smoking and lung cancer. Saw something last night on "Countdown with Keith Olberman" saying the estimated annual cost to an individual smoker is $14,560 ($40/day). This includes not only the cost of the cigarettes themselves, but all other related costs, including out-of-pocket medical expenses.

Whether or not this cost estimate is accurate can be debated. But it is fair to say that the cost of smoking can negatively impact getting to and remaining in FIRE. So I'm curious...how many smokers vs. non-smokers do we have?

EDIT: Just for reference, the United Health Foundation says 22% of the US population smoke tobacco products regularly.

REW

 

[73ss454]

Both my wife and I don't smoke.

I think everyone knows the deal with smoking.
It's just a bad addiction that people have a hard time breaking.

I think this topic is like Religion and Politics so I will gracefully bow out.

Oh yea, it stinks too.

 

[JPatrick]

Wife never smoked and I quit 19 years ago thanks to hypnosis.
Please, no questions about drinking

 

[REWahoo]

I think this topic is like Religion and Politics...

I hope not or I would have NEVER started this poll.... Have an idea that the prevalence of smokers among ER wanabees and ER's is lower than the general population (22%) and wanted to see if I was off base or not. End of story.

No polls on alcohol use, I promise.


REW

 

[Zipper]

All Zippers are non-smokers.

Why ER if you get Cancer, Heart Disease, Emphysema, or burn your house down.

Look at a 60 year old smoker (if he's still around) and a non-smoker.

The smoker will have dentures or yellowed teeth.

Grey hair is yellow hair.

Wrinkles and smokers tan are evident.

They smell!

Oh, and they've spent $10 000's wrecking their health.

 

[SteveR]

Neither of us smoke.

I was an on again off again smoker for several years but quit a few years ago. It is a terrible addiction. Medically it is as bad or worse than heroine. I believe it. I still think about smoking even though I have not had one in years. It becomes part of you and never completly goes away.

I am very happy to say I am now a non-smoker. If I could quite anybody can. I did it during the worst year of my life and never fell off the wagon. DW was a "casual" smoker when young and previous husband was a heavy smoker. She is delighted to live smoke free now. Neither of us can stand smokey bars or other public places where people smoke. I believe it is even worse for "reformed" smokers.

 

[flipstress]

Neither BF nor I smoke.  While in high school, I thought it looked cool and tried it several times but did not like it nor the way I smelled after smoking.

My dad chain-smoked 'til I was 14, and I sure inhaled lots of 2nd-hand smoke but I did not know any better to mind it.  Somehow on dad, the smell-smoke was OK because that was always what I associated with him, how dad smelled--a "manly" combination of cigarette smoke, Old Spice after-shave, and hair pomade.  He had to stop because he got bed-ridden from a couple of strokes and no one would buy him cigarettes anymore.  He died when I was 28.

BF's father died from emphysema or its complications.  He was also a smoker.

(Edited to share that my dad didn't smell too bad...)

 

[Eagle43]

Neither DW nor I smoke; we get hot sometimes, but we don't smoke.

I quit in 1972 and she quit before that. Wouldn't touch them now and try to restrain myself from counselling a friend or relative when I see them burning one.

 

[xprinter]

I put myself as a smoker. I think I am on the borderline. I only smoke about once a week and its a cigar. I do not inhale (really)
Jeff

 

[BUM]

xprinter,
One cigar/wk = nonsmoker in my book especially when your filling out that life insurance form!

As we age we tend to give up the things we like. Lets see... sex, drugs, tobacco, booze, rock & roll, and Italian food. I'm good!


BUM

 

[Ol_Rancher]

I voted nonsmoker but am a nicotine gum habituate. I chew about 6 to 8 pieces daily when I would most like a smoke. Gum is better than patches for most long time smokers who want to change. The patches keep you at a high steady state on nicotine to give you a feeling of being 'smoked out' if you have a cigarette.

Not to mention the patches are so damn hard keep lit.

Buy the gum on Ebay for as low as .16 each

The gum allows you to renew your friendship with 'Nicky' when you want that break. There are no carcinogens, no particulate matter, only slight vasal constriction. I have been chewing the gum for almost 2 years which equates to about 16,000 cigarettes not smoked.

 

[SteveR]

Rancher,

I used the gum to stop as did my brother. I agree it is much better than the patches or pills because YOU can control your intake just like you do when you smoked. It took 6 months but I finally got off the gum too. My brother has been using the gum for over 10 years and just does not want to give it up. He is in the medical field and knows about this stuff so it can't be that bad; much better than smoking for darn sure.

 

[Bookm]

I'm with xprinter, only a cigar occasionally. But I guess since the nicotine in 'em is worse than cigarettes, I must be a smoker then.

Bookm

 

[REWahoo]

With a total of 72 responses to the smoking poll, the results so far show that 9% of ER types smoke compared to 22% of the US population as a whole.

This is a small sample size but does seem to support my guess that the ER mindset would be pre-disposed towards non-smoking because we are a bunch of tightwads due to the negative impact of smoking on savings and budgets.

"Get 'Em Butts Outta Here..." Anonymous

REW

 

[Zipper]

Ol_Rancher, the term to ponder is "pack years".

A pack year is a pack a day for a year.

If you started at 16 and quit at 46, you're screwed.

30 pack years is not good.

Some have doubled their risk by smoking 2 or more packs a day.

They usually don't last much beyond 50.

 

[Lazarus]

I tried to show a co-worker that if he invested his cigarette money he could eventually be a millionare. He is still smoking and not investing. Oh Well, someone has to work.

 

[TromboneAl]

I figure the three reasons people smoke are:

1. They are ignorant of the effects of smoking
2. They have an unconscious death wish, and smoking is a way to commit suicide without making a commitment
3. Reasons 1 or 2 were true when they started smoking and now they are addicted.

 

[REWahoo]

However, that 22% includes lots of young and dumb while this group is mostly older and wiser. One thing I've seen over and over with the under 20 set- - -If you can just get um to break 20 without starting any life threatening habits (read- drugs & smokes) the chances are they are home free. It's not 100 %, but it's close.

For further clarification, the 22% number includes only adults 18 or older.

REW