Classification Essay

Bryce Langdon
Professor Joliffe
English 1301
17 October 2010
Smokers
Smoking tobacco has been around for many thousands of years and cigarettes specifically have been around for a few thousand as well. Smoking can be split up into several classifications with three of the primary ones being those people who smoke to reduce tension, people who socially smoke and habit smokers. Regardless of the type of smoker a person is, smoking is an addiction and harmful not only to the smoker but to family members, coworkers and any other person who comes into contact with the second-hand smoke.
Social Smokers. Casual smokers are those who typically do not inhale the cigarette smoke. They are not addicted to the nicotine. Some may think they are safe from the harm of a cigarette by “pretending” to smoke, but do not let this kind of smoking fool you. A person is still getting some of the affects of the smoke on top of other environmental toxins and second-hand smoke. Many times the casual smoker is only compensating for something being in their hands and often times will turn into a regular smoker. Casual smokers often times smoke a lot more than he or she will publicly admit. Many regular smokers envy the casual smoker because they believe that they have better control over their addiction and can stop on a dime but the fact of the matter is that most casual smokers end up smoking for false pleasures, trying to feel like they did when they were non-smokers (QuitSmokinGuide.com, 2009).
Smokes to Reduce Tension. A person who smokes to reduce tension uses the cigarette to manage negative effects, stressful situations and feelings of anger, fear, and anxiety. These type of smokers are often considered “light smokers” because life is full of stressful situations , hence the tension. Light smokers typically smoke between half a pack to one pack a day. Casual smokers easily slip into this smokes to reduce tension classification and often have been smokers, quit, and taken up smoking once again, several times. Many light smokers could still benefit from products aimed at reducing nicotine addiction, like nicotine gum or counseling, however changing priorities and lifestyle often help these type of smokers kick their habit (Painter, 2009).
Habit Smokers. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 1.3 billion people are smokers worldwide and smokers die an average fifteen years sooner than nonsmokers (Hawkins). For most habit smokers, smoking is not even enjoyable any more. People often have developed a behavioral pattern that causes them to light up as a response to a cue, for example a cup of coffee or getting into the car. Habit smokers can fall into the category of heavy to chain smokers who consume anywhere from two to more than three packs a day. When the habit smoker takes the steps necessary to quit smoking the possible withdrawal symptoms can be ugly but one must remember these are results from the person smoking not because they decided to stop. Such symptoms could include tingling or numbness in the arms and legs, severe headaches, diarrhea or constipation, and a overall uncomfortable feeling.
CONCLUSION
With several classifications of smokers, they are have similar characteristics for example they are cause lung damage. However, depending on the degree of smoker that a person is depends on how difficult it is going to be for the person to quit once they actually put their mind to it. No matter the classification, any person who quits smoking will be making a difference right away. A person’s taste and smell will get better, along with breathe smelling better, decrease in nasty cough, and more importantly add years onto the end of their life.

Works Cited
"Casual Smokers." QuitSmokingGuide.com. 2009. Web. 19 Oct 2010. .
Painter, K. "Your Health: Light smokers could need help quitting, too." USA Today 16 November 2009: n. pag. Web. 19 Oct 2010. .
"Smoking Classification." Projects for Students by Students. Oracle ThinkQuest, n.d.. Web. 19 Oct 2010. .
"Types of Smokers (by Cigarette Consumption)." Nursing Research (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 19 Oct 2010. .

Cited: "Casual Smokers." QuitSmokingGuide.com. 2009. Web. 19 Oct 2010. . Painter, K. "Your Health: Light smokers could need help quitting, too." USA Today 16 November 2009: n. pag. Web. 19 Oct 2010. . "Smoking Classification." Projects for Students by Students. Oracle ThinkQuest, n.d.. Web. 19 Oct 2010. . "Types of Smokers (by Cigarette Consumption)." Nursing Research (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 19 Oct 2010. .