Just found out my little sister (23) smokes

How long has she been smoking? How many cigarettes a day?

I think you can help only if the other person wants to quit.

Why do you think she started?

You need to get over yourself and realize that you are not in charge of your sister's choices. You may not like that she chooses to smoke but ultimately that is her choice.

I'm hoping it's only a "I smoke when I drink" thing but she drinks a lot too so who knows how often. When I was with her she had 2 or 3 from about 10pm to 2am.

ex-smoker wrote:

How long has she been smoking? How many cigarettes a day?

I think you can help only if the other person wants to quit.

Why do you think she started?

could use some advice fellas wrote:

I'm hoping it's only a "I smoke when I drink" thing but she drinks a lot too so who knows how often. When I was with her she had 2 or 3 from about 10pm to 2am.

ex-smoker wrote:

How long has she been smoking? How many cigarettes a day?

I think you can help only if the other person wants to quit.

Why do you think she started?

Well, I think you have to be honest and tell her that you are worried about her, and see what's her reaction.

In the best case scenario that would be enough for her to realize she is doing something wrong.

Are your parents smokers? Both my parents and my sister were smokers, so I think that was a BIG influence on me.

As a teenager it is hard to be responsible for yourself and kicking the chemical bond that you soon develop, and it took me some years to realize I was doing something stupid, but she is older so it could be easier.

Mr. Obvious wrote:

You need to get over yourself and realize that you are not in charge of your sister's choices. You may not like that she chooses to smoke but ultimately that is her choice.

Your mentality is stupid. Sure it is her choice, but what kind of person would let another do something stupid and not at least try to talk them out of it?Nothing wrong with trying to talk some sense into people.

You think the sister with the asters degree doesn't know that smoking is bad for her?

Pics?

2 to 3 in a 4-hour span while drinking? ... You don't have anything to worry about. My "smoker" friends have to buy fresh packs before going to the bar because they know that the 12 left in their current pack won't cut it. Sounds like your sis honestly might only smoke when she drinks.

Also - I agree that you should try to convince her to stop. I am just saying that I don't think she has gotten out of control yet by any means.

Mr. Obvious wrote:

You think the sister with the asters degree doesn't know that smoking is bad for her?

Good point. You would be a great AA/NA counselor!

Another one wrote:

2 to 3 in a 4-hour span while drinking? ... You don't have anything to worry about. My "smoker" friends have to buy fresh packs before going to the bar because they know that the 12 left in their current pack won't cut it. Sounds like your sis honestly might only smoke when she drinks.

Sounds like you never smoked. I did, for close to 17 years. Full-on dependency doesn't just begin with buying fresh packs before going to the bar. I don't think I bought a single pack for many months when I first picked the habit up. I may have even gone days in the beginning without a single one.

Do you think junkies started off by getting some works and immediately banging needles every hour or two right from the get-go? Drug dependency takes time to develop. You need more and more to receive the same effect as yesterday, last week, and last month.

Exactly. Also, kicking the habit at the beginning is going to be way easier.

It sounds like you are close with your sister; why don't you just tell her that you're concerned about her choice(s), that you love her, and ask her why she's taking this on? It also sounds like she drinks too much which is not a problem to ignore. she's smart enough to get a degree in civil engineering then she is certainly smart enough to understand the long-term ramifications of smoking and drinking to excess. don't let this go, of course it's her decision but it's stupid and destructive, so you need to get involved.

Talk to her.

A lot of smokers are getting into e-cigs. It's kind of fashionable actually, so maybe steer her in the direction of e-cigs. There is still the nicotene addiction but at least no smoke.

next thing you'll find out she isn't a virgin

I was smoking quite consistently around that age. I wish someone sat me down and told me I needed to quit in a sincere, loving way.

I say you really try to help her quit. No smoker who smokes cigarettes at a bar or party is actually enjoying it. They are doing it out of addiction, nervous habit or boredom or all three.

She could chew gum and quit drinking, socially.

I'm sure she'll thank you later.

ex-smoker wrote:

Good point. You would be a great AA/NA counselor!

People at those organizations are there because they WANT help.

Is she hot?

She has a master's in CivE? Oh...nevermind.