XPost: rec.drugs.cannabis, uk.legal, uk.politics.drugs   
   XPost: uk.rec.drugs.cannabis   
   From: Blah@hotmail.com   
      
   Pete nospam Zakel wrote:   
   > In article <7d9i61F2a629cU1@mid.individual.net> Blah    
   writes:   
   >> sobriquet wrote:   
   >   
   >>>> - Tekst uit oorspronkelijk bericht weergeven -   
   >   
   >>> Well, I'm glad anyway that I quit tobacco over 10 years go thanks to   
   >>> cannabis (smoking cannabis as a substitute instead of tobacco).   
   >>> Nicotine craving sure sucks.   
   >   
   >> Nicotine addiction is a illusion - you missed your *habit*..   
   >   
   > Sorry, but nicotine addiction is a real problem.  Not everyone gets addicted,   
   > though.  However, a higher percentage of tobacco users become addicted than   
   > heroin users.   
      
   As the hypnotist pointed out, in the days of smokey pubs - barstaff were   
   exposed to high levels of nicotine filled air - yet none ever felt the   
   need to TAKE UP smoking nor go into work on their day off for a hit.   
      
   So whilst the drug has a small addictive effect - for most people   
   completely gone within 3 weeks - mostly its the habit that keeps one   
   plugging away - having the first fag of the day, a fag with a coffee,   
   crashing fags with friends and the most important two things he spoke of   
   - the magic wand effect - something to hold in front of your face when   
   talking to someone, to 'hide' your feelings/lies. And secondly, the '10   
   second' pause - when someone asks you an awkwards question, a long drag   
   on a fag before answering gives you 10 seconds to consider the question   
   and plan the best response.   
   Also, MANY people who take nicotine replacement therapies still cheat   
   and have a crafty fag when with mates or in the situations above - why -   
   if purely a chemical addiction?   
      
   He came out with a lot of stuff like that, concentrating on the reasons   
   'why' and how to fix, rather than on breaking any chemical effect.   
      
   >   
   > I assume you do believe heroin is addictive, no?  However, the majority of   
   > GIs who used heroin in Viet Nam during that war kicked with no problem when   
   > returning to the states.  A large minority, however, did remain addicted.   
      
   No, heroin as I understand can be kicked in a week.   
      
      
      
   >   
   >> I gave my 40 a day 'addiction' after one session with a hypnotist whose   
   >> message was 'its a habit not an addiction, break the habit by doing x y z'   
   >   
   > Well good for you.  However, that doesn't prove it is not addicting to   
   > others.  I smoked cigarettes (and other forms of tobacco) for several years   
   > in my late teens and early twenties.  However, I could never get myself to   
   > smoke more than half-a-pack a week, and when I started coughing more than I   
   > liked I quit.  But I don't assume from my experience that everyone else is   
   > the same.  My dad tried to quit many times during his adult life and was   
   > never successful.   
   >   
   >> Been off 5 years now without a relapse after 20 years of years of 'on',   
   >> month or to 'off'   
   >   
   > Been off for over thirty years but I still get cravings for a cigarette when   
   > playing poker.   
   >   
   That's the habit...not a need.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)