I guess it depends on what your personal definition of suicide is really. If you choose to believe that smoking is a form a suicide then that's what you choose to believe....

I don't think most people who smoke can allow themselves to admit it is as bad as it is, that's the nature of addiction.

In a way yes. Smoking is one of the ways I self-medicate, so it keeps me alive too, in the short term. There's a fair bit of denial here too (i.e it won't kill me). When my sis was first diagnosed with breast cancer, they told her it was because of her life style. She didn't stop smoking, and now the cancer is back, its spread and she's going to die. Extremely sad, but her choice. Being the only other smoker in the family, I can appreciate her choice, but I'm pretty sure her young kids don't

Oh!! good post. My thought; any form of self destructive behavior might be considered suicidal behavior. If a person knows that what they are doing could result in death, that is suicidal behavior. From that point of view, it is a matter of degree of intent, and end result.

Someone once told me that every time we light up a cigarett we are telling our bodies that we would rather be dead than alive.
I believe there is no separation between our bodies and our minds.

It is pure stupidity. If you think smoking to get lung cancer is smart you truly are a dumb ass. My mother is dying from lung cancer and I also watched my grandmother die from it. It is one of the cruelist ways to die.

That's an interesting perspective nadareal and quite true

Addiction, slow suicide, self harm, there are so many ways to describe it. I just can be bothered to quit. I've done so twice in the past -- cold turkey. It would actually be less energy not to smoke, but hey, I've go one burning as I type.

my hubby smokes unfortunately...I hate it I dont like anything about it and I hate it mostly because I know with every breath he is killing himself..So yes I believe smoking is long term suicide

As far as cancer goes....it's a gene thing, a virus so unless you carry that gene/virus you may not necessarily end up with cancer.

I had 2 Army buddies who were both very athletic, didn't smoke, didn't drink alcohol, were very healthy eaters and both got cancer (one of them died unfortunately). Both of them said the same thing to me too (I'm a smoker) "It should have been you".

Whilst I can understand why they said it, it just goes to show you that cancer doesn't always present itself in certain situations. Certainly it may enhance your chances though.

Yes and no.

Yes, because everyone began smoking for a reason. And a bad one at that. Stressed. Too look cool. Whatever, there was a reason we lit that first cigarette. (yes, I smoke too, quit date Nov 1st) Smoking covers up the underlying problem. Stress kills. Smoking kills. A smoker is slowly being killed by their own will, by continuing to smoke, because of an issue deep within that is left unresolved. Such is the case in all suicides. An untreated emotional problem leads to death.

No, because when that first cigarette is lit you're not thinking "Now thirty years down the road these will finally put me out of my misery". It's not a suicidal intention. No suicidal person is going to wait to develop lung cancer. The trouble is nicotine as addictive. Equally so as heroin. So the smoker keeps smoking. Unless they wise up and quit.

As a fellow smoker, that's just my input.

Haples, sorry to hear about your mom. That truly is sad.

Taaka, If everytime you light up you are wishing for cancer and death than I would say that yes, this is your way of committing suicide. Even though it will take a while to do if it ever does take your life. However, suicide is often viewed by immediate death. A person gets fed up and takes their life quickly. This was food for thought though.

as and EMT and an Ex-Smoker (20 years) smoking really is suicide... slow painful suicide.... I've seen the wicked end from smoking in my patients... and no you don't want to know...

My grandmother and some of my patients have died of emphysema....which is essentially, slowly drowning in your own fluids. It can take years to die.

This is a very interesting thread. It has a lot of different valid points of view.

While smoking may or may not have the intention of causing one's death, I think most people who smoke intend to beat the odds, just like lottery ticket buyers want to win the odds.

But either way, whatever you knowingly do to yourself that will contribute to your death, has got to have some element of self destructive will to it.
But there is also the element human weakness, and need for satisfaction, etc.

We do not always have control over our behavior even when we know something can or will be harmful; or, we weigh the odds and take the risk anyway.

We do that evey time we get in the car, send our kids to school, and get out of bed in the morning.

No, it's addiction.