I have a friend who insists that she has quit smoking even though she still smokes 1 or 2 cigarettes every night in her garage and only occasionally smokes more than that  weekends.

Seems to me that cutting down is not the same as quitting.  Even if you smoke only 1 cigarette everday day, you are still a smoker.

Also, what about the smoker who smokes for a few days, then smokes nothing for a few days, then smokes again for a few days.  Is that person an on and off quitter?

I invite your comments please.    

Hey Anne... Smoking only 1 or 2 cigarettes a day means she is still a smoker. I wish I could do that. This is the feedback from me... Someone who still uses nicotine lozenges. I still feel like a smoker. But some days are better than others for me. I don't think I will ever really be nicotine free. I encourage and applaud everyone here who made it to the other side, but I don't know that I could be free.

I did that for a number of years.  It was torture really. Just a constant life of bad cravings and I certainly did not consider myself an ex smoker.  There was never a moment when I wasn’t thinking about the next possible cigarette in my life.  It has now been over three years since my last cigarette and I only think about cigarettes occasionally.  There are no cravings, just thoughts about time wasted, money wasted and so on.

just my thoughts

caz 

I agree with you Caz. I don't think anyone who has been a smoker can half-quit. I tried that years ago, by only smoking on weekends. And it worked for a while, but I was in perpetual withdrawal Mon-Thurs. And eventually the weekend started Thursday, then Wednesday......

I know people who would occasionally smoke socially. They were never smokers who bought their own cigarettes. That's different. I would smoke a cigar twice a year, but if a friend didn't hand me one, I would not smoke one. So, I never considered myself a cigar smoker. 

Smoking 2 daily is better than smoking 20, but it's not 90% better. The reduction in harm is not linear. 

Paul

Good point, 'the reduction in harm is not linear'.

Thanks, I agree.  A part time smoker is still a smoker. 

I also agree with you, Caz and Jerthie123.  Thank you for your input.  

I also have to say that, it is so frustrating that this person actually announces that she has quit smoking.  It feels like a cheat and a cheapening of what those who have quit, including myself, have gone through to quit and stay quit.

I can only say she is fooling no-one but herself.  She says she likes smoking so its ok for her to smoke 1 or 2 every night and a bit more on weekends.  Pity.  It would be so much easier and better for her to quit, entirely but, as long as she is in denial, there is no talking to her.

I don't let her get away with it though.  When she says she quit smoking, I always ask her about her 1 or 2 a day.  When I ask her why she doesn't just quit altogether, she says she likes smoking.  If she likes smoking, why would she care to say she has quit?  

Maybe cutting down will help but I strongly doubt it.  As long as you are lighting up, even one, you are on baby.  You will increase and decrease your consumption rate, over the days, weeks and months, but you are on. 

Thanks again for your input.

Cheers to freedom from smoking and freedom from nicotine.