Chain smoking

The X-Files Cigarette Smoking Man (William B. Davis) earned his moniker because of his nonstop chain smoking.

Chain smoking is the practice of smoking several cigarettes in succession, sometimes using the ember of a finished cigarette to light the next. The term chain smoker often refers to a person who smokes relatively constantly, not necessarily chaining each cigarette. The term applies primarily to cigarettes, although it can be used to describe incessant cigar and pipe smoking as well. It is a common form of addiction.^[1]

Causes

The use of cocaine or an amphetamine with cigarettes can result in chain smoking.^[2] Many people chain smoke when drinking alcoholic beverages, because alcohol potentiates nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, leading to re-sensitization and hence inducing a craving.^[3]

The extent to which chain smoking is driven by nicotine dependence has been studied. It does not seem that the amount of nicotine delivered is a significant factor, as the puff volume correlates poorly with the frequency of cigarette consumption.^[4]

Clinical use

Chain-smoking is given as an example of excessive addictive behaviour in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.^[5] It may be used as a form of aversion therapy for smokers who are unused to such heavy smoking, inducing them to give up altogether.^[6]

Ventilation

Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) professionals claim that an airflow of about 1000 cubic feet (28.32 cubic meters) per minute per smoker is required to maintain satisfactory air quality when the smokers are chain smoking.^[7] However, research confirms that current HVAC systems, while important for general air quality, cannot control exposure to secondhand smoke.^[8]

Chain smokers

A number of public figures were noted for being chain smokers.

See also

• Tobacco smoking

References

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