Pipe Smoking & Nicotine Addiction

[Hutch Piper]

Moderate nicotine consumption has some health benefits as it stimulates the brain. Of course, smoking is not good for you. You have to weigh the pros and the cons. For me, a pipe helps me relax and chill out. I otherwise wouldn’t take time for myself. I solve many problems in my life with a pipe. I also meditate and it reduces stress and anxiety, which is healthy. I also get out in nature, which has been prescribed for me - it’s important and helpful. So I would say just be cautious about how much you are smoking. Smoking a pipe or two a day is reasonable in my estimation. I’m not a doctor but I have friends that are and I have discussed it with my doctor, and they think my approach is reasonable. Pipe smoking also helps me to stay away from alcohol, which is also a very good thing. Instead of looking forward to a glass or two of wine at the end of the day, I look forward to my pipe.

 

[The Libertine]

Moderate nicotine consumption has some health benefits as it stimulates the brain. Of course, smoking is not good for you. You have to weigh the pros and the cons. For me, a pipe helps me relax and chill out. I otherwise wouldn’t take time for myself. I solve many problems in my life with a pipe. I also meditate and it reduces stress and anxiety, which is healthy. I also get out in nature, which has been prescribed for me - it’s important and helpful. So I would say just be cautious about how much you are smoking. Smoking a pipe or two a day is reasonable in my estimation. I’m not a doctor but I have friends that are and I have discussed it with my doctor, and they think my approach is reasonable. Pipe smoking also helps me to stay away from alcohol, which is also a very good thing. Instead of looking forward to a glass or two of wine at the end of the day, I look forward to my pipe.

I always look forward to a bottle or two of wine at the end of the day. I'm not here for a long time, but for a good time.

 

[Chasing Embers]

But you're not mortal CE

The doctors are saying 2-5 years but until then,

 

[warren]

Your brain will enjoy the nicotine. And, if you've got money to burn, the pipe is as good a place to burn up your wages as any other method I suppose.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I smoked a pipe for about 6 or 7 years without becoming addicted. I would smoke every day for a few weeks, then I'd go a week without sometimes and didn't feel the slightest bit worse for it. Of course I missed it but didn't feel like I needed it.

Then came a time when I was in graduate school studying non-stop, then after that came studying for the bar exam where I sat on the patio for about 5 or 6 hours after work on weekdays and 8-10 hours a day on weekends studying. During those studying times I had a pipe hanging out of my mouth 90+ percent of the time.
When the exam was over, I was addicted.

I don't know how much is too much. I imagine that varies from person to person. I do know a couple bowls a day didn't do it for me. It wasn't until I smoked so much I lost count that it happened.

 

[anotherbob]

basically it's the same as it was with cigars.

 

[VDL_Piper]

The doctors are saying 2-5 years but until then,
View attachment 375809

You're always in the fight mate, stay strong

 

[EMP27]

I smoked cigarettes for 15 years and it was the hardest thing for me to quit but I could quit pipes and cigars easily. I just realized that I like nicotine and relaxation from smoking.

 

[Chasing Embers]

You're always in the fight mate, stay strong

I've made my peace with it and it's fine.

 

[Swiss Army Knife]

I wouldn't recommend anyone start smoking. I'd probably tell my younger self not to bother, it's an expensive and ultimately unhealthy habit to have. However I do greatly enjoy it, but I was perfectly happy before as well.

Best advice is to be honest with yourself about it and keep yourself in check. Are you starting to smoke two, three, four bowls a day? Yeah maybe cut back. Are you retrohaling a lot or even just straight up inhaling? Check yourself and don't let it become a habit because it's a hell of a lot harder to break the longer it goes on.

In terms of health this is all a game of exposure and risk. You'll be less likely to curse yourself in the future if you mitigate that exposure and risk. Smoke outside rather than indoors, don't retrohale, definitely don't inhale, smoke sparingly, hell even use a charcoal filter. Like everything in life though thing's come with downsides. Smoking outside can suck, retrohaling is fun, inhaling and the nic hit is fun, smoking a lot is fun, charcoal filters often suck. Figure out what risk is worth it to you and if you're really that concerned about your health then don't smoke and if you do keep that risk to a minimum. Or don't, it's a free country and it's your life.

 

[Zamora]

Everybody has a different threshold for getting hooked. Some people smoke multiple Nicaraguan cigars a day but have no problem doing without for a day or several if need be, some people have cravings the morning after having a single smoke. I think for most people if you smoke cigar / pipe bowl a day or less they probably will be okay.

 

[Hutch Piper]

I always look forward to a bottle or two of wine at the end of the day. I'm not here for a long time, but for a good time.

Good for you. Undortunately, I am unable to enjoy alcohol the way others can. It’s just not healthy for me or my relationships. I’m at oeace with it and grateful for my pipe.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Would you recommend even starting smoking to your younger self? Is it possible to make this purely a casual thing? Once a day? A few times a week or month maybe? I am currently 30 years old.

No on the first question. Having said that you can do it however you want. This time of year I'm maybe once a week, warmer temps a few bowls over the weekend for the most part. But my experience won't translate to yours.

I know addiction is person dependant, and I’ve seen many similar questions online on this topic, but I wanted to get some more support on this before I smoke more.. as well as more thoughts and insights.

I'm lost on the addiction thing in terms of what you are looking for in terms of support or affirmation. It's really down to you and smoke a pipe or don't, accept the risks whatever they are or don't. I'm not going to encourage anyone and I tend to just stick to relating my experiences such as they are. Since getting into smoking pipes all I can say is I enjoy it when I do, for me it's in moderation, and if for some reason I decide I no longer do (not foreseeing that, just saying) I'll just stop.

 

[SSGT.]

I smoked cigarettes for years and will not lie about being a nicotine addict. I started smoking a pipe because my doctor told me that if I was going to smoke pipes or cigars were safer, not safe safer.
To me a cigar smells like hell, kind of an oxymoron after thirty plus years on cigarettes, but that's why I chose a pipe. To me there is no spiritual enlightenment it is something I really enjoy doing, with cigarettes I felt like a slave to nicotine at least with a pipe I satisfy the nic. monster and feel like I've got control over him.
Would I tell that young teenage boy 50 years ago to try it, not no but hell no. And just like he did when his father was warning him back then he would still do it anyway.

 

[Sicut_Incensum]

It drives me nuts when people say this. I smoke a 2-4 bowls a week usually and will drop it for weeks/months at a time when I'm not feeling like smoking for whatever reason. I've never been addicted to nicotine.

Seconded. Thankfully this is also how my body treats alcohol. Caffeine, however, I tend to need every day, though usually just a cup or two at most.

 

[Snook]

If anything, I've found that the blends I smoke the least are the ones that actually cause me to feel anything from the nicotine (heavy blends with latakia, perique, etc.). I enjoy pipe smoking the most when I can go a whole bowl without feeling any effects.

 

[Sicut_Incensum]

To answer OP's question about my younger self: I wish I'd started smoking a pipe earlier! My campus had a lot of spots that would've been perfect for it. And I would've been able to stock up on Frog Morton...

 

[Sigmund]

I typically smoke two bowls daily. Im not going to say Im not addicted to nicotine becuase I really dont know. I do know that if I miss a morning smoke it doesnt concern me. I dont feel like Im craving anything.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Addiction doesn't look the same for everyone. At my bourbon club, alcoholism comes up a lot. Some alcoholics need a drink everyday, some can go days, weeks, months, maybe years without a drink, and then binge out. I hear heroine is the same. Some people can use everyday without anyone knowing. Some can go years, and then binge out, wake up, and then go a few more years without.

Addiction to nicotine is the same. Some people will get the shakes if they go a whole day without. Some can walk away from it whenever they want, and then the aroma of some tobacco burning, attracts them back into another bowl.

Addiction has always been a contingent of argument on these forums, because some only see the one type of addiction as a real addiction. "If I can go months between pipe fulls, then I'm not addicted." But, the point is that you come back.

For me, I will just assume that I have an addiction. And, I'm fine with that. It causes no other problem in my life that worries me. There may be functional alcoholics among us that only have a drink every now and then. So, for me, I have a nicotine addiction, but I would not say that I have a nicotine problem. end of story. your opinions on me matter not.

But, it's not my place to tell everyone else that they are an addict... unless their problem impedes on my problems.

 

[Sicut_Incensum]

If anything I'm more addicted to collecting than smoking!