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Barack Obama says you can control your smoking!
Jump to full article: Psychology Today, 2008-12-08
Author: Stanton Peele, Ph.D., J.D., has been researching and treating addiction since he wrote Love and Addiction (1975).
Intro: Let's see, which of my views on addiction is least popular? That most heroin, cocaine, and crack users don't become addicted, and only a small minority of addicts remain addicted? That most alcoholics reduce their drinking over their life spans? That most smokers, alcoholics, and drug addicts recover without treatment? I know - that reducing smoking is possible and healthy (that is, healthier than not reducing it).
Recent presidents have been a boon for my crazy views - George W. quit drinking and smoking on his own (okay, with a religious epiphany). Barack Obama quit his early drug use when he got serious about life. Now, Barack is tackling the biggest taboo of all - cutting out his cigarette addiction but not quitting smoking altogether! . . .
On the other hand, casual smoking is customary around the world - but you know how ignorant those Europeans are about addiction! In America, we know that casual smoking is impossible - we watch Oprah, for chrissake!
Let's talk about the overall smoking picture first, beginning with the young. The data I reviewed in Addiction-Proof Your Child is that smoking has declined among high schoolers, from about three quarters in the nineties who had ever smoked to about a half now, from a third who smoked regularly to a quarter. . . .
But what about Obama - he's well educated, has a pretty good career(!), and has a lovely family. Is it possible that some of those with good overall control of their lives due to education, social support, and career success are able to control their smoking?
The data show that cutting back smoking or smoking occasionally is possible, and it does improve your health.
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