abdul - yes i have treated people for copd, lung cancer, emphysema in my time and as a psych nurse, most of my patients smoke and spend their lives coughing their guts up. smoking is an addiction, and as any other, people have to be really motivated to stop and want to do it for the right reasons otherwise it never happens. i only smoke a few and am considering quitting (again - i have done it before!) and will get to it in my own jolly good time. also - i'd like to point out that i am not dumb, here - i did an a level project on smoking, have seen it thoughout my training and practice and even did my dissertation on the smoking ban in psychiatric units - so i really know my stuff here. giving up is just not that easy and unless you smoke (or have given up) you won't know just how hard it is.