I started smoking meet at the age of 14 from the influence of older friend I would say. I was in a heavy smoker at first but by the age of 16 I would say I became a heavy smoker by definition of most people. I was smoking 2 to 3 pack of Camel Wides A day. I was also getting into illicit drugs at the time and that along with the much older age of all my friends, I know now, contributed not only to the fact that I smoked at all but the amounts that I smoked. I would smoke much more when on drugs and wouldn’t even realize until the next day that I had smoked 3.5 packs of Newports or Camel Menthols, I had switched to Menthols around 16. I remember sometimes, actually many times, lighting one smoke with one I just finished, smoking 3-4 in a row. I remember almost being proud and/or bragging about how much I smoked. Fast forward to 29 years old, I’ve been a constant and serious drug addict forever, gotten sober a few times, quit smoking once or twice and while doing 2.5 years in prison quitting, something very rare in the prison system. Most guys STARTED a smoking in prison for one reason or another. I sobered up and after about a year my head began to clear and I became a machine. I loathed drugs and all un-healthy habits. I quit cold turkey after 32 days in the hole, I was already a work out fanatic but now my lungs freed up and I began to run as well and do cardio. Upon release I was in the best shape of my life and had such a hatred for drugs and smoking alike that I threatend physical harm to anyone that offered. I made my wife smoke outside, the stench disgusted me. I started a business because im an above average refrigeration technician and no one is gonna hire a Felon straight outta prison with a bank robbery and pharmacy robbery record. My business blew up and within two years I had about 7 full time employees, multiple vehicles on the road doing service, a slew of part timers and sub contracters and and another huge Heroin habit. I relapsed a year and a half out. With that came smoking again, all Opiates have always made me smoke and smoke a lot. Another year later and more successful I was arrested and then diagnosed with Multiple Sclerossis. At first it wasn’t that bad, I quit drugs and got on Methadone but that stuff made me smoke just as bad or worse. My MS started to progress extremely fast and all of my Dr’s insisted I quit smoking, I tried the little crappy gas station type actual cigarette looking E-Cigaretts’ but they did nothing for me at all. One day, back into a two pack a day Camel Menthol Wides habit, I saw someone with a large vaporizer and was extremely intrigued. I inquired about it, tried it and went and bought one. I TOTALLY PUT DOWN ALL CIGARETTS IN THREE DAYS. That is not an exaggeration or lie. They fulfilled whatever need the Opiate gave me to smoke and I have been told since we’re much safer. I was down to ZERO Nicotine in three weeks. It’s been about 10-12 months and i vape for the pure enjoyment, this odd need it fulfills and because it’s become a fun hobby. I try to convert everyone I can and lead them away from deathly cigaretts. That is my Vape story and I will never smoke again, cannot foresee a real reason to switch back. They’ve also helped changed my life for the better and hopefully will stay that way, what with all these talks of bans and whatnot. So if you are still a smoker try different types and get away from that crap.