I mentioned before that my AA group in Wyoming said "no mind altering substance" and convinced members not to take antidepressants, because they are mind altering. The same group smoked. Nicotine is not only mind altering it is addictive.
When I quit I gave up alcohol, tobacco, tranquilizers, on the same day.

Antidepressants are not a drugs of abuse. Ask any addict who tried to use them to get high. They don't work that way.

Tobacco is not only addictive, it had disastrous health effects.

Imperm, this is another misconception your have of AA-- "my AA group in Wyoming said "no mind altering substance" has it happened? yes, but it happens very very rarely from misinformed individuals.

From reading your different post I can't figure out for someone that doesn't use AA bash it and talk about it all the time. I'm thinking there is some type of underlying issue you might want to take a look at.

Don I understand what your saying you have brought up the subject many times over the years here but this board is about alcohol, if you want to put smoking in the mix here I guess we could talk about people that are over weight or obese and the compilations that causes with people that die from related issues to that because of are addictive personalities.

Personally, I don't understand how you anyone can quit drinking and think it is okay to keep smoking.

Nicotine is mind altering, addictive and deadly. I think it does have special status -- many think that if you smoke pot you aren't truly sober, but smoking cigarettes "doesn't count."

Jersy, after awhile in sobriety hopefully you will come to realize trying to "understand" others in active addiction whatever the substance maybe is wasted energy.

gjm -- LOL... yes, I do know that

Its a killer. But then so is obesity....so where do you draw a line?
For me personally, I choose not to smoke. I havent smoked since I was in my early 20s and even then it was a take it or leave it. Not a big addiction.
There are a ton of anti smoking ads put out by the FDA that air on CA stations (radio and TV) so i woudnt say its not mentioned.

To reply 2: This board is about alcohol, AA is about alcohol and the counselor treating the guy with three dui's is about alcohol. However, AA members, counselors and sponsors all look at tobacco much differently than they do say MJ or popping a few pills. Therefore tobacco has special status within the recovery community, which is a big part of the reason that tobacco kills more alcoholics than alcohol does!

Where do you draw the line, sitcky? How about including substances that are known to be addictive, mind altering, and dangerous to ingest? Alcohol and nicotine both fit. Food is not in the same category.

While obesity is a major health problem and chronic overeating has some similarities to substance addiction, food is required and not addictive in the same way that alcohol and cigarettes are.

donttread -- do people in AA who smoke consider themselves to be "spiritual fit?"

I am sober 12 years and I still smoke. I wanted to stop drinking and I did that. Whether I choose to do anything else is my business. The effect tobacco has on me is completely different to that which alcohol had. It doesn't alter my mind in the same way. I am well aware of the dangers for my health and at the moment I accept them. At some point I am sure that will change.

I stress this is my opinion and experience but for me, given the absolute destruction that alcohol caused on me and my life there is no comparison between drinking and smoking. Smoking has not caused me to lose my home, my job, my money, my soul. It hasn't caused me to hurt everyone I come in contact with. It hasn't caused me to try and kill myself. I could go on.

My experience is that alcohol and some other drugs completely prevent me from living in a spiritual way and therefore completely block off my means of staying sober. I can't use any of them. But tobacco does not do that. I'm sure I would be spiritually more healthy if I didn't smoke but I challenge anyone to say there are not things in their life they would be better off not doing, thinking or being. No one is perfect.

As far as reply 1 goes, in my opinion that AA group is completely wrong. Firstly AA is about alcohol. Secondly it is not for anyone in AA to tell he what to do especially concerning outside issues. Thirdly it is extremely dangerous to tell anyone not to take anti depressant medication.

To be honest I couldn't give a damn if people think I am not truly sober if I smoke.

Nicky,

Of course whether you choose to smoke or to drink is your business. Also whether you consider yourself as sober or not is your business as well, I'm glad you responded because you bring up a very good point about the difference in the effects of drinking and smoking cigarettes. Nicotine is a mind altering substance, but it doesn't impair cognitive function the same way. Case in point -- no one gets arrested for smoking while driving!

I do agree with donttread that nicotine has special status even though it is a dangerous, addictive substance that kills more people than alcohol. That is very worrisome.

Also, my comment about being "spiritually fit" was a bit of a low blow, and I am sorry for that. I get a bit peeved when I hear that phrase bantered about here. Because I don't have the same context with how others might use it, it seems like it is waved about like a flag of glory. But not appropriate for this discussion and I did not mean to offend anyone with it.

Societies standards are far reaching but that does not necessarily mean its correct or even healthy. Given generational amnesia or familiar transition with a peer pressure attachments or pay offs connected to the social standards. Pay offs are lucrative good or bad!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HN9bcuIK70s
Billy

ExJG, totally agree that tobacco has a certain status but i totally think that it is because the effect that smoking has is totally different than that of alcohol and other drugs. It is certainly a strange thing. I know people who didn't smoke until they arrived at rehab for alcoholism which seems totally obtuse.

I guess it is also a societal issue. Tobacco and alcohol (mostly used by non alcoholics) , the two legal drugs, have huge health cost. Do they serve a purpose or would society be better off without both of them? Big questions?

Considering smoking on a personal level, I certainly wish I had never started doing it and had more desire to stop!

Lol re spiritually fit as a flag of glory! I confess I do use the phrase spiritually fit because it is so vital to my recovery. But that is for me. It is never an expression of superiority over someone else or anything like that. Can understand why it might come across like that though.