Forgive me if I side-step your earlier debate as I understand why both smokers and comfortable ex-smokers often feel threatened by discussions of chemical dependency, methods of recovery, and their mind's honest yet selective recall of their own cessation history. It's normal and expected with this topic and I do hope that my reason for being here isn't used by any side sensitive to these issues as victims are sensitive too.
You might want to glance at our forum rules, Roy, as even there we quickly learned that debate over tobacco company culpability, debate that vilifies $$$ seeking pharmaceutical companies, or even regarding such issues as how far social controls should go in deterring smoking, were destructive and divisive of the group cessation experience and contrary to our primary group objective - supporting each other in staying nicotine free today!
Briefly turning to your comments about addiction I'd like to share the words that Philip Morris now has posted on its website -
A clear and consistent message
Cigarette smoking is addictive. It can be very difficult to quit but, if you are a smoker, this shouldn't stop you from trying to do so.
Cigarette smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema and other serious diseases in smokers. Smokers are far more likely than non-smokers to develop diseases such as lung cancer. There is no such thing as a "safe" cigarette.
"Smoking is dangerous and addictive."
Link to Philip Morris International Website Health Page
As for secondhand smoke issue, Roy, the risks with secondhand smoke may be very real but they don't begin to compare to the magnitude of the risks you and I subjected ourselves to sucking down mainstream smoke - for example a 2,200% increase in the risk of male lung cancer, with substantially elevated risks to every part of the body that smoking's deadly cargo was transported, including the bladder and penis.
I'm sometimes told that I'm into scare tactics. If given the opportunity, I reply that I don't need to use scare tactics as tobacco's truth is scary enough. The day that I share one more story like Bryan's and Noni's than is actually happening (scare tactics) would be a welcome day indeed. You see, the U.N. says that there are over 4,000,000 destroyed lives a year and I share but a few.
No, I remember what it was like to feel invaded when forced to confront the truth. No, I would have felt angry if someone tried to convince me that I was still a "real" drug addict and just one powerful puff away from setting into motion the wheels of relapse. No, I can fully appreciate honest anger, when others fail to take seriously, or try silence or erase, a risk that very nearly cost me my life.
Years and years of active dependency. This is an extremely personal to over one billion of us. Should we expect it to be otherwise? I think not!
Link to Bryan's Story - He Wanted You to Know!