WhyQuit's Smoking Initiation Survey



The below ten question online poll survey was conducted at
WhyQuit from May 7 to June 3, 2005 at 8:09:20 AM EST




1. When you first started smoking, how many cigarettes did you smoke before you sensed your brain issue an urge or crave command to smoke again?

I don't remember (296)
58 %

1 to 3 cigarettes (60)
11 %

4 to 6 cigarettes (18)
3 %

7 to 9 cigarettes (16)
3 %

10 to 14 cigarettes (19)
3 %

15 to 20 cigarettes (25)
4 %

2 to 3 packs (31)
6 %

4 to 5 packs (14)
2 %

6 to 10 packs (8)
1 %

More than 10 packs (16)
3 %

Total Votes: 503



2. When you first started smoking, how long did you smoke before you sensed your brain issue an urge or crave command to smoke again?

I don't remember (178)
52 %

1 to 2 days (31)
9 %

3 to 4 days (18)
5 %

5 to 7 days (12)
3 %

2 to 3 weeks (25)
7 %

4 to 5 weeks (9)
2 %

1 to 3 months (22)
6 %

4 to 6 months (8)
2 %

6 months to 1 year (21)
6 %

More than 1 year (14)
4 %

Total Votes: 338



3. How long after you started smoking did you smoke your first cigarette alone, without anyone present?

I don't remember (105)
30 %

I was alone when I first started smoking (76)
21 %

1 day (30)
8 %

2 days (8)
2 %

3 days (9)
2 %

4 days (2)
0 %

5 to 7 days (26)
7 %

1 to 2 weeks (20)
5 %

2 to 4 weeks (11)
3 %

More than 1 month (59)
17 %

Total Votes: 346



4. How old were you when you started smoking?

Age 11 or less (37)
8 %

12-13 (79)
18 %

14-15 (141)
32 %

16-17 (87)
20 %

18-19 (49)
11 %

20-22 (28)
6 %

23-25 (3)
0 %

26-30 (2)
0 %

31 to 40 (3)
0 %

Older than 40 (nil)
0 %

Total Votes: 429



5. What was your primary motivation for smoking that first cigarette?

I don’t remember my primary motivation (14)
3 %

To experience the tastes and flavors (34)
8 %

I was seeking to gain acceptance by a peer or peers (135)
34 %

One of my key role models smoked (33)
8 %

To look more adult (43)
10 %

To experience a new adventure (60)
15 %

To rebel against authority (25)
6 %

I was given a free pack (3)
0 %

I had too much to drink (11)
2 %

My primary motivation isn’t listed (35)
8 %

Total Votes: 393



6. How long after starting to smoke before you made your first attempt to quit smoking?

I don’t remember (14)
3 %

Within a few days (6)
1 %

Within a few weeks (7)
1 %

Within a few months (8)
2 %

Within the first year (23)
6 %

Between years 1 to 5 (126)
33 %

Between years 6 to 10 (72)
19 %

Between years 11 to 20 (73)
19 %

After 20 years (37)
9 %

I’ve never tried to quit (6)
1 %

Total Votes: 372



7. If you could go back in time and have a second chance, would you again take that first puff of nicotine?

Absolutely not (353)
88 %

Yes, I'd smoke it (15)
3 %

I don't know (29)
7 %

Total Votes: 397



8. How long did you smoke?

Less than 1 year (4)
1 %

2 to 4 years (9)
2 %

5 to 6 years (10)
2 %

7 to 8 years (16)
4 %

9 to 10 years (27)
7 %

11 to 15 years (55)
14 %

16 to 20 years (64)
17 %

21 to 25 years (59)
16 %

26 to 30 years (53)
14 %

More than 30 years (70)
19 %

Total Votes: 367



9. How many cigarettes did you smoke each day?

Less than 1 (8)
2 %

1 to 4 (1)
0 %

5 to 9 (24)
6 %

10 to 15 (51)
13 %

16 to 19 (66)
17 %

20 to 29 (156)
42 %

30 to 39 (36)
9 %

40 to 49 (16)
4 %

50 to 59 (6)
1 %

60 or more (5)
1 %

Total Votes: 369



10. Which continent do you live upon?

Africa (4)
1 %

Asia (8)
2 %

Australia (25)
6 %

Europe (44)
11 %

North America (286)
77 %

South America (3)
0 %

Total Votes: 370





Sincere thanks to "you" for participating and to Peter at Free Web Polls!





Click upon Bryan's picture to read his story
Click upon Bryan's picture to read his story.  He wanted you to know.
We have just two options, lasting freedom or smoke until it cripples or kills us.  Why not choose life!

Created May 7, 2005.  Survey Closed June 3, 2005 by John R. Polito