Smokers, at what age did you start?

[Charade]

My gf smokes (a little) and started at 12.

 

[dmslush]

I started at 13, and quit at 30. I wish I had never started, I'm sure I have done loads of damage to my body.

 

[Dan Murphy]

13, quit at 27, when I was doing 2 packs a day. I can't imagine anybody starting smoking today; REALLY can't understand an adult (let's say over 18 or so) starting today.

 

[candykisses]

I started at 19 and quit at 36. It was very easy to stop. I decided to quit and never lit another cigarette. I carried around a half a pack for about a month, just in case, then threw them away.

I wish I could stop eating as easily.

 

[robinb]

I started at 14 and quit when I was 18. I would not date anyone who was a smoker now (even if I could since I am married). It is basically a non-starter deal-breaker for me. I quit for a reason.

 

[JoyG]

I believe I've read studies that most people who start smoking start during high school or before. If you graduate from HS a nonsmoker, the odds are very low that you will ever start.

That's why cigarrette companies are so interested in marketing to youth even though they claim they're aiming it at adults...like the old Joe Cool cartoon/Camel character...

 

[txSleepingBeauty]

I started at 19, it was totally peer pressure, everybody at work did it on breaks and I wanted to fit in. quit after I left that job and started again when i studied in France for 6 weeks, basically had nothing to do at night and would sit in bars or cafes and smoke and talk......smoked on and off for a while, but started again regularly about 3 years ago.....I smoke about a half a pack a day, mostly in my car

 

[disneynutt1225]

I experimented when I was 12, and went full on at age 13. I've quit a couple of times over the years - once for 9 months, but something almost always brings me back. Part of me wants to quit now, but part of me really enjoys being a smoker (even though most of society looks at me as if I was a pariah). I figure I'll quit when I'm ready - most likely after the wedding, but definitely before we start TTC.

 

[lclark0621]

I am an Ex-Smoker.

I started at 13, and quit at 25. I am so happy I quit. And looking back, I was a idiot for starting.

I am happy every day I quit.

 

[DawnCt1]

I experimented with candy cigarettes at the age of 4...when my father caught me. He told me if I ever bought them again (five cents a pack) I would get a serious spanking. I then switched to those pink bubble gum cigars and I did get that spanking. My Dad was a very addicted cigarette smoker. When I was about 4 and a half he would send me to the corner store in Boston (W. Canton St.) to buy him a pack of L & Ms out of the machine. He would give me a quarter and a nickel. I could open the pack and keep the two cents for penny candy. I made a couple of trips a day. Every time I brought hiim back the pack he would say, "don't you ever smoke, these are going to kill me someday. I never did. I never even was tempted to try it although all of my friends smoked. I would never allow anyone to smoke in my house when I was growing up, (my dad did enough of that), nor my car, etc. My Dad died of lung cancer at the age of 57. It seemed young to me at the time. It seems so much younger now.

 

[MinnyGranny62]

I started smoking at 16 and quit 26 years later. Best thing that I ever did was quit. Wish that I knew then that I know now. Shirley

 

[eclectics]

Started at 15, smoked for 33 years and now paying the price. They get you hooked when you are young and stupid. I stopped enjoying it ten years ago but it's such a darn hard thing to give up. Finally did it though! It's coming up to almost a year.

 

[Fionasmommy]

Started as a high school freshman at 14, finally quit at 24.