Madam, – Brian Maurer of Ash, predictably cites nicotine addiction as the most likely reason that “occasional smokers” smoke (November 11th). However, in a new study published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Dr Reuven Dar of Tel Aviv University’s department of psychology found the intensity of cravings for cigarettes had more to do with the psychosocial element of smoking than with the physiological effects of nicotine as an addictive chemical.
Dr Dar believes that people who smoke do so for short-term benefits like oral gratification, sensory pleasure and social camaraderie. Once the habit is established, people continue to smoke in response to cues and in situations that become associated with smoking. Dr Dar states that understanding smoking as a habit, not an addiction, will facilitate treatment. Smoking cessation techniques should emphasise the psychological and behavioural aspects of the habit and not the biological aspects, he suggests.
This will be appalling news for the members of Ash who have spent many years attempting to characterise smokers as smelly, sick, addicted weaklings. But they are simply people who choose to smoke, despite the best efforts of organisations such as Ash. And as regards the “occasional smoker”, Mr Maurer is incorrect to suggest that a few cigarettes cause the same damage as a lot of them. The first law of toxicology is that “the dose is the poison”. It is the culinary equivalent of suggesting that to eat a small morsel of any food, will make you obese. – Yours, etc,