WhyQuit's Smoking Initiation Survey Responses
The below ten question online poll was conducted at WhyQuit from May 7 to June 3, 2005
|
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 |
|
|
Smart Turkey
|