A few of my friends smoke. One day I decided to try a few puffs from one of their cigarettes, and it made me really dizzy and light-headed. I think I may have tried a few puffs the next day too (but not a whole cigarette). I think I got dizzy maybe twice that day from cigarettes. A week later, I tried several puffs throughout the day that probably added up to one cigarette. It made me dizzy again, and also kind of nauseous. The following night at a party I tried a few more puffs. Also, I frequently inhale secondhand smoke from some of my friends, but I didn't really hang out with these friends before this summer.

I haven't smoked for over a week now, but for some reason I keep thinking about smoking, even though it made me feel sick. Could I be addicted? I really don't want to be, and I find it hard to believe since I haven't done it that much. By the way, I'm an 18-year-old male, weigh about 137 lbs, and am a little under 5'9 in height. Could I possibly be addicted? If I am, could I get addicted even more if I keep smoking? Or is it black and white, as in you're either addicted or you're not?

hi dex, you probably aren't physically addicted, however, the strongest cravings are the mental ones. ask any smoker if they could go back to a time before they were physically addicted what would they do. i garuntee they would tell you not to take one more puff. do yourself a favor, find something else to un-wind with like yoga or weights or socializing w/friends who don't smoke. i hope that's not too preachy, i'm just trying to think what i would say to myself if i could talk to that 18 year old girl who started smoking just because all her friends were doing it. i don't know if i would listen but i would plead w/her to PLEASE get out now while it's easy and you aren't a slave to the ciggarettes.
marie