Pipes, cigarettes, and nicotine

[pauls456]

The FDA recently proposed lowering the nicotine content in cigarettes, claiming that nicotine is the addictive element.

This comes from todays New York Times:

The fact is that most smokers want to quit. For all the industry’s insistence that cigarettes are an emblem of individuality, nearly 70 percent of adult smokers would prefer not to. More than half of the nation’s 31 million adult smokers attempt to quit each year, and only 7.5 percent succeed.

If these claims are true, its striking how the effect of pipe smoking differs from that of cigarette smoking. I could quit the pipe anytime and suffer no ill effects whatsoever, other than missing the pleasure of pipesmoking.

 

[anotherbob]

well more so than strength absorption rates matter with addiction. That's why most people don't become junkies after a morphine drip (they also tapper you off the stuff if you're there for a long time). A cig gets the nicotine into your system and into your brain pretty quickly and in large amounts. A pipe gets it into your blood which has to go for a trip around the whole body first. The brain just doesn't react as severely to that.
Also Proposed doesn't mean too much. They propose things all the time that never come to be.

 

[warren]

A pipe gets it into your blood which has to go for a trip around the whole body first.

Not sure about that fact. The nicotine is absorbed into the blood through the membranes in the mouth and nose. So, I'd presume, the nicotine goes to wherever that, now diminished in oxygen, blood cell is traveling to. One of two directions of course, away from the heart or back to the wee pump.

The fact is that most smokers want to quit. For all the industry’s insistence that cigarettes are an emblem of individuality, nearly 70 percent of adult smokers would prefer not to. More than half of the nation’s 31 million adult smokers attempt to quit each year, and only 7.5 percent succeed.

I'd love to know how the NYT's source arrived at the figures. What patients tell their doctors? Numbers of people joining government and/or smoking cessation groups? The American Cancer society? And so on. What is/was the methodology. How many of those wishing to quit try different methods but, are not counted as a single individual? Each attempt or method counts for "one" smoker, counted multiple times, I'm guessing.

And the number of new smokers is suspiciously missing. But, a balanced report is never to be expected. Me? I'm still searching for a satisfactory cigarette after my brand of choice went kaput.

 

[pauls456]

I agree that the numbers are probably inaccurate, and reflect antismoking bias.

 

[didimauw]

I enjoy smoking. Always have. I wouldn't mind quitting cigarettes, but I never see myself without a pipe.

 

[condorlover1]

@warren: I gave up when they changed the way my favorite brand was made. I used to put packets of these in the Box Pass years ago and everyone used to find them endlessly amusing!

 

[sardonicus87]

I also enjoy my cigarettes. And as a cigarette smoker who is definitely addicted, the only thing I really don't enjoy is the addiction part (and the rising cost... when I first started, the now $80-85 carton of Camels I smoke was $20). That nagging need when I am in the middle of doing something. Like when I went to see the new Batman movie and didn't realize it was 3 hours long. Or when I am stuck on long flights or something.

But otherwise, I do enjoy sitting alone and enjoy the cigarette itself with no desire to quit smoking. It's not like some smokers that smoke out of compulsion or addiction. I savor every one of them the same way I savor my pipe, or coffee, or a succulent steak.

 

[warren]

everyone used to find them endlessly amusing!

I'm a firm fan of various Russian cigarettes. Belamorekanal being number 1 choice. Gotta tap the edns to seat the tobacco and empty the tube. One doesn't want to forget to do that or, the experience is less than satisfactory.

 

[warren]

Belamore Kanal, for those desiring a translation, "White Sea Canal."

 

[anotherbob]

Not sure about that fact. The nicotine is absorbed into the blood through the membranes in the mouth and nose. So, I'd presume, the nicotine goes to wherever that, now diminished in oxygen, blood cell is traveling to. One of two directions of course, away from the heart or back to the wee pump.

Yes and the flow of blood basically goes first (as much as anything can be first in a continuously running cycle) from the interior of the heart to the lungs where it gets oxygen and other things then to the exterior muscles of the heart and the brain and basically goes down from there before going the whole way around back to the chambers of the heart starting the cycle again. Basically the mouth is pretty much about as far away from brain as it can be on that trip. Also the lungs are much quicker about transferring things into the blood it's pretty much instant. Where the mucus membrane isn't anywhere as quick. Had to memorize the path a blood cell travels for anatomy classes.

 

[dctune]

I’m never giving these up.
The govt can kiss my …

 

[condorlover1]

I'm a firm fan of various Russian cigarettes. Belamorekanal being number 1 choice. Gotta tap the edns to seat the tobacco and empty the tube. One doesn't want to forget to do that or, the experience is less than satisfactory.

Don't forget to crush the tube both ways to form the mouthpiece. Happy days with a jar of mountain pickled onions and 750 ml of Moskovskaya peppered vodka! That plus salt and black bread and you could yourself one hell of a party!

 

[warren]

Don't forget to crush the tube both ways to form the mouthpiece.

It's been so long since I've been able to enjoy a Belamore that I forgot that necessity.

 

[jttnk]

Warren, are you lamenting the Nat Sherman’s? I liked them quite a bit. I allow myself the pleasure of cigs 1 x a week at band practice or gigs. Give them to bass player for safe keeping till next week. I know it’s infantile deniability! All things in moderation.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

There are a few floating in here as well.

 

[hyperstar]

I started to smoke cigarettes when I was 18. I wanted to quit it, but the withdrawal symptoms and addiction of cigarettes were very awful for me. If I didn't smoke at least 1 cigarette per day. My hands would be shaking and my heart beats would increase.
Pipes, by contrast, never had any symptoms for me. I can stop smoking it for a very long time if I wanted to.
I guess the symptoms are caused by the additives in cigarettes.
Now, I can't even smoke cigarette anymore. My throat would feel being chocked if I try to smoke cigarette.

 

[WVOldFart]

I’m never giving these up.
The govt can kiss my …
View attachment 155464

dctune you can't continue with those, because the Surgeon General will tell you that over use of candy cigarettes will make you prone to Diabetes.

 

[condorlover1]

@warren: There was another brand that was the better 'quality' version of Belamore that came in a tin that featured a traditional Russian troika on the lid. I must be getting old as I cannot remember the name but they tasted very good but the first one of the day would send your head spinning!

 

[warren]

Would that we had such a cigarette available in the West! I was mostly in the Russian Far East, Magadan was base with many trips to Khabarovsk, Vladivostok and many points in between, never saw the brand. Never imagined an "upscale" Belomore Kanal. Sorry I missed the ecperience.

 

[Andriko]

the '70% of adult smokers want to quit'* link doesn't even reference any of the studies they use. And how do they arrive at one in five deaths are due to smoking? Is that just that one in five people who die were smokers? I know smoking is bad for me, but one thing I've learnt in life is that there are 'lies, damn lies and statistics'.

*What about child smokers? I guess they're quite happy with the habit.