Hijack the Streets: My experience of giving up smoking
While smoking rates have declined, it’s still a huge cost to our health and economy. Each year around 15,000 Aussies die from smoking-related causes, and it costs the nation around 31.5 billion dollars. Hijacked chatted to four young people about their smoking habits, aiming to find out why they smoke and how they quit.
Tre, 20
When did you start smoking?
Fourteen. My mates were doing it and they’d be like, “Wanna duck around the corner for a smoke?” When I seriously started — instead of rarely — that was 16.
What role do you see smoking playing among young people?
I think young people are smoking less and it’s looked down upon a lot more — until they hit the drinking age. Then everyone has one while they have a drink for some reason.
Have you ever tried to quit?
Yes, I have tried, because my girlfriend isn’t a fan. My health is important too, but the girlfriend was the kick in the pants I needed. It just makes me angry when I can’t have a smoke, and it’s weird trying to fill that free time I used to spend smoking.
Kaj, 20, Sydney University
Have you ever tried to quit?
I’ve tried to quit three times. It’s very easy physically; my real addiction seems to be to the habit. There are so many five-minute increments I used to fill with a cigarette, and it makes it impossible to stop thinking about them.
What role do you see smoking playing among young people?
It’s an instant icebreaker and common interest between people — probably the best thing about smoking during a night out. Want to have a short chat with someone but not a full convo? Exchange small talk over a cigarette.
Do you think many young people want to quit?
I haven’t met anybody my age who genuinely, seriously wants to quit. Some people do for a bit, but nobody really gives a shit. I’d imagine that changes as you become older.
Tiarne, 20, Open Colleges
Have you ever tried to quit?
I started smoking about three years ago because I felt pressured into it and my parents always used to smoke around me. I wanted to quit for personal reasons; it lasted about three months, then I had one again and I thought I could control it, but I couldn’t.
Do you think many young people want to quit?
I think it’s something kids want to do these days to look forward to — maybe becoming something cool. Smoking just turns into [a drug] — that’s when you get addicted. I think people smoke because it’s cool, but I don’t think it is.
Anonymous, 21, Macquarie University
When did you start smoking?
I started smoking when I got to uni, because it seemed cool and I’d never done it. The government tries really hard to make it seem unappealing, but it’s a rite of passage.
Have you ever tried to quit?
I haven’t seriously tried to quit. I know about the health risks, but it’s not an immediate problem. When I go for a while without smoking, I do miss it, and I usually just give in. But I figure that if it’s not that often, it’s alright.
Do you think many young people want to quit?
I think everyone has thought about quitting, but not many people do. It’s just very accepted. Even when I’m hanging out with people that don’t smoke, they will ask you not to smoke around them or to sit further away, but there’s no one who’s going to be like, “You should quit.”
If you’d like to quit smoking for good, call Quitline on 13 78 48 or check out the Quitnow website.
Header image: Fayaaz Moosa, Flickr Creative Commons license
Body images: William Warby, MattysFlicks, Carsten Schertzer, Jordan McCullough, Flickr Creative Commons license
Originally published at http://hijacked.com.au on February 11, 2016.
