I have chronic hep c, and b, multiple ulcers duodenal / stomach, degenerative disk disease or spine WHATEVER It fuckin hurts al the time, two lower lumbar surgeries so chronic pain syndrome for, hmmm, let's see... 27 years to be damn precise. As well as, depression, anxiety, ADD/Impulsivity, but I think I am normal and would be fine if I wasn't labeled an ADDICT because I like to alter my mood with substances that enhance the mind, body, and spirit... We use to call people like that "Shamans". Nonetheless, I am aging quick and have finally come back to cannabis just seven years ago after walking away from it thirty-five years prior. I wish I would've never stopped using weed back then, but the ole woulda coulda shoulda bares no fruit... I try to live in the moment. Peace and thanks for asking.
Haha. Nice way to evict that smart ass xD
Anyways i think the thing with cigarettes or any substance is about wanting to get wasted or feel some funny buzz. Nicotine does give a small buzz that can be pleasant for many. If you learn this habit to smoke or use something to tickle your funny bone, let it be nicotine, weed, alcohol, lsd or heroine, its not that relevant for if that sort of drives develop or not. Also if you learn the habit of soothing your addictions by smoking a cigarette for example as a young kid, this behavioral pattern is more deep rooted in your psyche, because it is there before much of other stuff is that comes from growing up and you grow up by giving in on the addiction daily. Quitting things can also be learned, but so can relapsing.
Naturally the harder and more addictive substances you use as a kid, it will teach you differently. I mean if you are hooked on crack when you are 13 years old, you learn different behavioral patterns than if you are addicted to tobacco, not to mention how it shapes the brain development differently if you smoke crack all day long vs smoke tobacco, or weed.
Sometimes it can be a single experience that is so great that you want to do it again, and again and again and again.., but thats most likely due to psychological issues you want escape from, or maybe the substance is so strong that it makes a strong impact.
I know people whose first drug is something a lot stronger than weed, like amphetamines, opiates etc are much much more likely to turn complete addicts than those who first smoke weed and then try something stronger. This seems to be more true with women, but maybe its because women who take this route are more fucked up to begin with than men and all the abuse they will likely face being in such a crowd all drugged up, most likely in quite young age, while the guys are likely grown up junkies. And then the drugs ease that stuff..