Why I Don't Smoke?
Over the past 2 years, the proportion of friends around me using smoke-based stimulants such as cigarettes, vapes, waterpipe tobacco, cannabis, etc., has increased rapidly. Roughly speaking, 3 to 4 out of every 10 people use them .
Even though so many people around me smoke, I have never picked up this habit because I have built solid personal viewpoints for myself:
Poor oral hygiene
According to numerous studies , smoking cigarettes causes yellowing of the teeth and bad breath because:
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Cigarette smoke contains tar — this is a chemical substance that turns teeth a dull, yellowish color. If you smoke for an extended period → it becomes extremely difficult to remove this discoloration with regular toothpaste.
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Cigarette smoke destroys beneficial bacteria in the mouth → increases saliva secretion → leads to tartar buildup.
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Many chemicals in smoke-based stimulants irritate the tongue → causing the tongue's papillae to overgrow → creating a breeding ground for bacteria → leading to bad breath.
I began orthodontic treatment (braces) a few years ago, and that journey set a very high aesthetic standard for my teeth, jaw, and face. I no longer view my teeth and mouth merely as organs meant for chewing and processing food. Today, I view my teeth as a piece of fine jewelry .
Furthermore, I am someone who tends toward Romanticism . I genuinely adore "sweet kisses 💋". Therefore, keeping a distance from smoke-based stimulants does not just benefit me—it will also protect those magical moments for my future partner :)
Waste of money
Let's solve a simple math problem:
Smokers smoke an average of 4 cigarettes a day.
An average pack of cigarettes contains 20 sticks.
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A cheap pack of cigarettes costs on average $0.77 (20,000 ₫) per pack ( read more ), flavored cigarettes average around $11.54 to $17.31 (300,000 - 450,000 ₫) per pack, and premium ones can even reach ~$38.46 (1,000,000 ₫) per pack ( read more ).
Thus, on average every 5 days a smoker will need to buy a new pack, meaning they consume about 73 packs in a year.
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If smoking cheap cigarettes, a year will cost $0.77 * 73 = $56.15 (1,460,000 ₫) in cigarettes.
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If smoking flavored cigarettes, a year will cost $11.54 * 73 = $842.31 (21,900,000 ₫) in cigarettes.
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If smoking premium cigarettes, a year will cost $38.46 * 73 = $2,807.69 (73,000,000 ₫) in cigarettes.
Of course, the figures above are only rough estimates. Nevertheless, take a look at those numbers and multiply them by the number of years you smoke. Do you consider that number big or small? To me, that amount of money could very well change one (or several) people's lives!
That is perhaps an extremely convincing argument so that I — someone who deeply values money (which I had to work hard with sweat and tears to earn) — will never squander my wealth and future opportunities on things that yield little value .
Brings no benefit to myself
Anyone who has followed me for a while knows that I have always believed money is merely one aspect and tool of life. Therefore, if we only focus on the money spent on "smoke-based stimulants," it would truly be somewhat unfair.
Let's look at the benefits that "smoke-based stimulants" offer to gain a more objective perspective:
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Smoking helps reduce stress: When smoking, people control their breathing. This very action helps smokers regulate deep and rhythmic breathing while smoking → reducing stress and regaining calmness.
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Many chemical compounds in stimulants offer physiological benefits: While many components in stimulants are harmful, several compounds are actually beneficial. Take a prime example: it is no coincidence that cannabis has been legalized and widely utilized in neuropsychiatry in several countries, with a market size projected to surpass $42 billion by 2024 ( read more ). Similarly, compounds in tobacco can be applied to treat various neurological disorders ( read more ).
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Smoking helps construct personal branding: The imagery of a "godfather" holding a cigar while commanding his crew, a rapper holding a joint "flowing" to melodic beats, or a mysterious, alluring woman with a cigarette between crimson-red lips are iconic images that many people aspire to emulate. Sometimes a cigarette is not just a consumer product, but serves as a symbol to express one's personal identity to society.
The few prominent benefits I mentioned above prove that smoking is not entirely an ugly evil that deserves universal condemnation. However, those benefits simply do not align with my personal needs:
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Stress relief — I can practice meditation and mindfulness to control my breathing instead of turning to smoking.
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Benefits from chemical compounds in "smoke-based stimulants" — in reality, the beneficial compounds in "smoke-based stimulants" are also available in many other healthy products without being accompanied by harmful elements (like smoke & tar), right?
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Building personal branding — this might be the most compelling argument for a young person like me to use "smoke-based stimulants." However, the personal image I strive for is "a zen minimalist" — an image that does not include "a cigarette between my lips."
There, you see? A cigarette on my lips brings no benefit to me whatsoever. So why on earth should I have any reason to use it?
Bottom lines
In reality, using stimulants is not inherently a bad thing , and conversely, not using stimulants is not necessarily a virtuous thing .
It all depends on what your perspective on stimulants is.
Does it bring any benefit or value to you?
Answer that for yourself and make a rational choice!
As for me, saying no to stimulants is my way of asserting my own class!
P.S.: The photo of me smoking a waterpipe was just for fun and aesthetic posing :)
Thank you for reading my article!
Kim,