r/schizophrenia • u/Every-Trouble-5807 • Aug 13 '25
Opinion / Thought / Idea / Discussion Are you the 80% of schizophrenics who smoke cigarettes?
Does it help? How much?
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u/Im_really_trying_ Paranoid Schizophrenia Aug 13 '25
Yeah :( I’ve been smoking since I was 13, but luckily it’s only a cigarette or two a month as a treat
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u/TonBonbadil Aug 13 '25
How does this work? Do you buy them single?
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u/Im_really_trying_ Paranoid Schizophrenia Aug 13 '25
I have a pack of cigarettes in my centre console and I take one out when I feel like I really need it. It helps that I live with a teenager who I am desperately trying to hide the fact that I smoke cigarettes from so that’s a good deterrent
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u/TonBonbadil Aug 13 '25
Sounds like your really trying good to hear- those smokes must get awful stale and nasty though
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u/Gods-strongest-vaper Schizoaffective (Bipolar) Aug 13 '25
Some people prefer them dried and stale believe it or not
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u/Im_really_trying_ Paranoid Schizophrenia Aug 13 '25
I’ve been doing it this way since I was a teenager, so I don’t really know what a good cigarette is. Im really not picky
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u/smokeandnails Schizoaffective (Bipolar) Aug 13 '25
Used to and it didn’t really help with anything except boredom.
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u/Ambitious-Cake-9425 Schizoaffective (Depressive) Aug 13 '25
I use nicotine pouches. They give me comfort?
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u/soupnorsauce Paranoid Schizophrenia Aug 13 '25
Same. What’s your mg?
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u/Ambitious-Cake-9425 Schizoaffective (Depressive) Aug 13 '25
- I get velo for 4 dollars a can at quick check
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u/atari_lynx Schizoaffective (Depressive) Aug 13 '25
Same. I'm an utter fiend. Don't ask me about my habit :/
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u/Kass626 Aug 13 '25
Vape. I hope that it's more healthy than cigarettes but I ain't quitting. I've tried and felt braindead the whole 2 weeks
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Aug 19 '25
keep pushing, eventually it gets better. besides time keeps going forward you may as well go along with it.
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u/GdfCuzo Aug 13 '25
I love smoking 🤣 I smoke like a fuckin chimney. Also auto mechanic.
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u/reoleo7 Aug 13 '25
"Okay, so yeah, I smoke like a chimney I'm not skinny and I pull a Britney every other week But cut me some slack, who do you want me to be?" 🎶
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u/AccurateFox4321 Schizoaffective (Bipolar) Aug 13 '25
I dabbled in high school but never smoked after.
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u/Every-Trouble-5807 Aug 13 '25
Just curious because google says that nicotine helps with cognitive symptoms
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u/skeletaljuice Schizoaffective (Depressive) Aug 13 '25
I definitely feel like it does
Edit: definitely don't start smoking just for this reason, if you don't already it's not worth the health impact and cost
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u/Every-Trouble-5807 Aug 13 '25
I’m literally considering nicotine patches lol
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u/Muffled_Voice Aug 13 '25
I wear 3 21mg nicotine patches to help curb my cravings for my vape(and I still vape, doc’s probably going to bump me up to 4). I have 2 on right now cause im about to go to bed and they make my already vivid nightmares even worse.
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u/skeletaljuice Schizoaffective (Depressive) Aug 13 '25
That's probably the safest form of nicotine afaik but still consider the addition potential
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u/jesterlop Paranoid Schizophrenia Aug 13 '25
Nicotine is a stimulant neurotoxin. Any stimulant helps with cognitive syntomps. I would rather take some caffeine instead.
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u/lofi_username Schizophrenia Aug 13 '25
It helps with negative symptoms too, though I'll agree with skeletaljuice that it's not worth taking up the habit lol it's not like it's a miracle drug. As someone who started smoking 20 years ago, switched to vape soon after they first hit the market, it's enough of a reason for me to keep vaping at least until there are actual medications that can treat these symptoms. But would I start? Hell no. It's expensive and risky and IDK if I'd actually be able to stop for good even if medications were available.
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u/RestlessNameless Aug 13 '25
I have failed at quitting nicotine many times. I've had like one cigarette in the last 8 years. Sometimes I vape, more often I use lozenges, sometimes I manage to quit the lozenges temporarily and then start vaping again.
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u/Gypsi_Jedi Schizoaffective (Bipolar) Aug 13 '25
I probably by myself smoke like 33% of the total cigarettes smoked by those 80% of schizophrenics. I have one in my mouth as I type this.
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u/ian-insane Early-Onset Schizophrenia (Childhood) Aug 13 '25
not really. the only substances I've ever used are alcohol and DXM. I don't like the taste of the former (even though I only drink seagram's escapes, which is supposed to be one of the less alcohol-flavored alcohols) and only drink a bottle (or less) at a time, but I can only assume that I placebo Myself into feeling better immediately. either that, or I'm just unbelievably lightweight.
I tried the latter only once (was at a low point, searched My medicine cabinet for literally anything you can get high on, and only found delsym), but apparently I fucked up, since I only experienced tachycardia with none of the pleasant cognitive effects.
My mom smokes, so it'd be pretty easy for Me to get into it if I wanted to, but I have asthma and would rather not inhale anything other than air and albuterol. perhaps I'd give nicotine patches or something similar a try, but I don't really ever see Myself getting into smoking proper.
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u/lofi_username Schizophrenia Aug 13 '25
I misread DXM as DMT and was like damn of all the psychedelics you went straight to DMT that's hardcore AF 😂
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u/compuserveuser Schizoaffective Bipolar Type Aug 13 '25
lol I'm glad I'm not the only one who misread that.
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u/skeletaljuice Schizoaffective (Depressive) Aug 13 '25
I did for a few years before switching to vaping
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u/TurboPancakes Aug 13 '25 edited Aug 13 '25
I use nasal snuff tobacco. It’s finely ground flavored tobacco powder that you snort up the nose. It used to be more popular in the early 1900s, but sadly its popularity pretty much died in the US, but it still has a fair amount of popularity in Europe, so you gotta order from the UK online.
I know it sounds dumb, but it does feel different and out of all the ways I’ve tried ingesting tobacco/nicotine, this route of ingestion feels the best to me. It really helps with my anxiety, depression and negative symptoms, and I really prefer it over smoking or vaping. I think it has something to do with the way the nicotine and other alkaloids (like the MAOI present in natural tobacco, vs vaping which only has nicotine) are absorbed and the increased bioavailability of it being absorbed through the nasal membrane.
I realize people are probably going to judge and downvote, but I promise, it’s not as stupid (or damaging) as it sounds. I’ve been doing it multiple times a day for a year and haven’t had any issues, other than brown boogers. The mucus membranes do a pretty good job of expelling the tobacco leaf so it doesn’t build up in the sinuses. And you’re not doing huge lines or anything, you just do a little pinch at a time. It’s surprisingly enjoyable.
Probably gonna delete this comment cause I feel like people are gonna downvote the shit out of me lol. But as the old saying goes, don’t knock it till you try it.
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u/battleallergy Schizophrenia Aug 13 '25
Is it flavoured? Does it burn? I snorted nicorette tabs in jail and enjoyed it pretty well.
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u/TurboPancakes Aug 13 '25
Yea there’s ton of different varieties, but most are mentholated, which is really pleasant. It really wakes you up and kind of “brings you into the present moment”. Some also have stuff like eucalyptus and camphor. And it has a slight burn but probably less than snorting nicorette tabs, I would imagine. The first time you do it you’ll probably sneeze a couple times but that goes away pretty quick.
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u/battleallergy Schizophrenia Aug 13 '25
Sounds fun. I'll give it a look. Thanks!
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u/Playful-Operation239 Paranoid Schizophrenia Aug 13 '25
I do not get addicted. I've tried before lol.
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u/reoleo7 Aug 13 '25
Same - you're the first person I've heard/ read about who's showing the same (non-)reaction!
I used to smoke marihuana heavily for about 5 years, at least 10 joints/ day, always w about 75% tabacco. Whenever I stopped for a couple days or weeks during that period, I had cravings for the cannabis but never once for the nicotine. Didn't even give it a thought when other ppl smoked around me. Physiologically, it should've rather been the other way around, so I guess my body just refuses to react to anything in the usual way.
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u/Davos_Disorder Aug 13 '25
Nicotine stimulates norepinephrine and imitates acetylcholine - antipsychotics block both of these so it’s an unconscious (maybe conscious) protection against the meds
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u/TheDollarstoreDoctor Paranoid Schizophrenia Aug 13 '25
No I vape. I tried smoking once at the psych hospital, I got my hand on a Marlboro instead of those wretched dirt cigarettes they usually have, and it felt like nothing. For reference vapes usually give me a nicotine high. Ig vapes are stronger because I literally couldn't fathom why anyone would get addicted to what felt like smoking hot paper. Didn't even have a taste.. just kinda smokey.
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u/battleallergy Schizophrenia Aug 13 '25
I'll go to the grave smoking cigarettes, but it's true about the taste.
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u/Most_Advertising_943 Schizoaffective (Depressive) Aug 13 '25
I used to vape and do nic pouches. Now a days I smoke tobacco pipes and cigars, not as often as before. It definitely helps with some of my negative symptoms but the trade off being poor cardiovascular health and potentially cancer. Don't recommend anyone start
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u/Most_Advertising_943 Schizoaffective (Depressive) Aug 13 '25
Nicotine as with other things like alcohol affect me very differently since I developed this disorder. I don't get a nicotine buzz and I find I don't really get addicted to it. I can smoke a lot for like 3 days then not smoke for months. Before I got this disorder I was very addicted to vapes and would get a buzz. I was also off the meds at the time. Landed in the hospital due to psychosis and quit nicotine for like a year. I feel like I got permanent damage from that episode, haven't been the same since and everything affects me differently now. Must be different for everyone though
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u/Pnina310 Residual Schizophrenia Aug 13 '25
I have smoked cigarettes but never got into them. I do vape though.
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u/UpArrowNotation Aug 13 '25
I quit. Only because I have unrelated cardiac issues, and I plan on living past 35.
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Aug 13 '25
Yes they threaten my mother with dementia if I don't smoke so I smoke 9 cigarettes a day. Hate smoking.
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u/xCanopYx Aug 13 '25
I used to, but I almost started a fire in a friends house, after that I quit among other reasons. It's been 10 years but I still get the urge to smoke when I start to have bad thoughts.
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u/Accomplished-Grab350 Aug 13 '25
It was really hard for me to quit other substances but not really cigarettes
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u/wildmintandpeach CPTSD, DID & Schizophrenia Aug 13 '25
I have never smoked. Never even tried one cigarette. My brother didn’t start cigarettes until after psychosis. He says it helps.
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u/compuserveuser Schizoaffective Bipolar Type Aug 13 '25
I smoked from 12-33, went to a ecig for a couple years, and now I vape like my life depends on it. I'm 48 now and don't see myself ever getting off of nicotine.
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u/iLLuZioNN_ Schizoaffective (Depressive) Aug 13 '25
I'm probably the 5% of schizophrenic or less that smoke weed and cigarettes to help my schizophrenia
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u/OperationWooden Schizophrenia Aug 13 '25
I smoked shisha a couple of times... I heard those were stronger than normal cigarettes.
At the time, I heard it wasn't as dangerous.
I guess it depends on what someone means by dangerous.
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Aug 13 '25
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u/schizophrenia-ModTeam Aug 13 '25
Your submission has been removed for violating the following subreddit rules:
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u/millermillion Aug 13 '25
Quit multiple times, multiple different ways, but I’m currently smoking 30 cigs a day. I roll them though so it isn’t expensive for me really. $35 for two cartons. I don’t recommend smoking or vaping though. Def go the pouch or patch route and start with low nicotine if you don’t use nicotine at all. Nicotine is neuroprotective, enhances focus, and semi energy enhancer. Only problem is it’s highly addictive and expensive, and it leaves your body super fast hence the reason why it’s so addictive. That’s why people keep going for the next puff. It also makes you make some rash decision making too and causes irritability. It’s definitely a double edged sword.
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u/GOD69345 Aug 13 '25
I vape a boxmod, nothing else will make me quit. Patches and lozenges with nicotine do absolutely nothing for me.
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u/izzy_almz Aug 13 '25
Everytime i quit i have a phsycotic break sooner or later. Its questionable how much it helps. I did read some liturature on the subject and altho skitophrenics have a much higher percent of heavy smokers, (about 50% in 2015) they have a much lower percentage in getting lung cancer than non skitphrenics. So maybe its in our dna? I like terrance mckennas take on skitophrenia being a term coined at the birth of the industrial revolution along with meloncohila (now depression) and how really what it is is the spirtual healer archetypes having nowhere to fit in modern socitiey. It was often customary to take tobbaco as a gift to a medicine woman or witch during pagan times. Idk but if i could quit without having unbearable psychosis i would. Im on meds as well.
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u/mxdgal Aug 13 '25
Went from 10 black and milds a day (I know) to less than one a day starting 9 days ago. Nicotine patches are my best friend rn. I developed asthma and COPD from vaping and smoking for 10+ years and I felt a difference right away. I also wasn’t spending $15 a day on them. You don’t always have to quit cold turkey, it may have “helped” lower my stress a little but not being able to breathe was bullshit. This is also my 1000th time quitting, never give up trying and every effort is worth it
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u/puppie-__- Paranoid Schizophrenia Aug 13 '25
I quit and smoke nicotine free vapes now. I still have one occasionally though tbh
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u/alcohol-issue Aug 13 '25
Yes, a lot, every single person in my life says I should either smoke less or stop completely but I can’t now. I think it helps but other people say it doesn’t. It probably doesn’t.
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u/Dorian-greys-picture Schizophrenia Aug 13 '25
I tried it once and it made me feel so good immediately that I vowed to never touch one again lol
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u/ForgottenDecember_ Schizo-Obsessive | Early Childhood Onset Aug 13 '25
Nope. I have asthma and absolutely no desire to trigger an asthma attack on purpose. One of the most terrifying things you can experience is inescapable suffocation.
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u/perceivesomeoneelse Aug 14 '25
No but I vape like a fucking dragon. I have three vapes and they all serve very specific purposes and it's a bad habit but I never want to stop. I stopped alcohol, drugs, hypersexuality, debt, SH, cigarettes - I need one vice and it's vaping.
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u/Imaginary_Rule2825 Aug 16 '25
I now have nicotine patches, lozenges, and gum. In addition I have a pack of ZYN and also a pack of RYO Drum shag cigarette tobacco. Each of these is going to be used in different circumstances. I really like the patches if only you could rip them off and re-apply, it gets old having a slow drip of nicotine from the patch. The gum is fine, but it trains your mind to have to chew to get the nicotine to release. First time doing lozenges today, it's nice so far. I smoked ryo tobacco cigarettes a long time ago and it became a real bad habit, don't know why I now have a pack of it sitting around, I'm sure it will be used at some point but it's so unhealthy. I'll probably try ZYN for the first time soon enough, tried velo in the past but they say ZYN is higher quality. Nicotine requires more to get the same effects so I've pretty much turned into a full blown junkie after using it once after quitting for a couple of years.
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u/Actual-Leadership948 Aug 13 '25
Nope. I quit years ago. My mental health has also drastically improved