How concerned should I be about my boyfriend's smoking habits?

[Tangerina]

I have a question. I am a non-cig-smoker, never even tried one in my life, and I am dating a sweet fellow who has what I believe is a moderate nicotine addiction. He smokes between 0-5 cigs a day and chews tabacco sometimes, but smokes less when he does. His average (when I am with him) is about 3 a day, and a few more if we are at a party. He knows that I don't like it because I want him to happy and healthy and I know how bad that stuff is for you. He respects that and it makes him feel good that I care. However, we have only been together for 6 months and even though we are in love I don't believe it is my place to change him, rather to support him if he tries to make life changes for himself. I do, however, think it is appropriate to be more forceful if someone has a real problem that is hurting them. So I am on here asking if anyone knows how harmful a habit like this really is? He knows it is bad for him but isn't ready to quit yet but keeps it under ok control by not smoking when he is stressed and trying to only do it a few times a day. I don't know as much about his chewing habits but I think it is about the same as the smoking, if he does more of one he does less of the other. I know that this stuff is totally purely unhealthy in any amount, but should I stop worrying or bugging him about it since it is only 3 a day? Anyone else been in this situation? What did you do?

 

 

PS I guess if it got longer term or more serious as in marriage I feel it would be more of my place to impose my beliefs on him because I would need him not to die before me so I wouldn't have to be a lonely old widow lady, but as it is we are 20 years old and he is his own boy, I just am curious if I should be worried or not about it at the level it is at.

[bicyclejunk]

Smoking sucks...

 

It causes Cancer, Wrinkles and Respiratory diseases...

 

You think it won't get ya or catch up with you, but it does...

 

The problem is, you never know...sure there are people out

there who don't have Cancer, but they are smokers...but

that doesn't mean they won't get it...and that doesn't mean

that other people won't get it right away...Some people are

prone to getting cancer quick, some later on, some never, but

there's lung cancer, mouth cancer, throat cancer a whole bunch of crap...Yet people still continue to smoke.

 

Basically it's bad for you...and people shouldn;t do it, but i'm

not anyone's father so do what you want..