Portrait of an EX-smoker Part two

Posted: February 18, 2016 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

By Sean Marshall

The exciting conclusion you’ve all been waiting for!

Alex Kennedy ex-smoker understands that there are a lot of people involved alternative music that smoke. “No one ever judges you or tells you it’s gross.” He mentions that everyone is aware of the damage they’re doing to their bodies but quitting is difficult, especially if the music you listen too doesn’t care if you smoke or not.

Kennedy knows that smoking is a part of the alternative music industry. “The lead singer for Protest the Hero has a pro smoking song right now.” Kennedy even goes on to say “to be honest it’s one of my favorite songs.” He is aware it’s part of the scene and tobacco tries to influence him and others but thinks it really comes down to personal choice.

He explains that the whole scene is very forgiving and connected “often times I would make both smoking and non-smoking friends at concerts.” Going on to say “when it gets cold or rainy at outside events you huddle together. Smokers non-smokers it doesn’t matter. We don’t judge or try and change each other.”

He feels that big tobacco doesn’t have the pull in Canada they have in the states but knows on some level they do have influence. “I remember seeing only a few adds for cigarettes in magazines as a kid but they were from American publishers.” he does know that there is some sort of targeting but he is unsure if it really has the most effect.

He does mention the trend of moving from cigarettes to e-cigarettes or “vaping” seems foolish. Pointing out that in some cases weening ones self off of tobacco products can work for some it but not him. “I didn’t want the nicotine in my system, I figured it may lead to a relapse,” Says Kennedy.

Lastly Kennedy wants others to know it’s harder to quit then many think but almost everyone is supportive. Even other smokers, “most smokers are actually really sportive of those quit, or want to quit.” Says Kennedy, he urges anyone who wants to to give it a shot and for those who don’t want to that’s perfectly fine too.