I grew up with alcoholic parents, smoking, drinking and fighting was the norm to me. My dad never had a day off work, retired at 60 and died of bowel cancer 2 years later, I feel due to the fact that he had more time to drink and smoke as he was at home all day.
My mother had breast cancer at 53 years old. She has just had her 80th birthday this year. She still smokes roll ups, has a Guinness every day.
My younger brother followed my parents way of life and drunk himself to death age just 44 years old, 7 years ago.
My older brother never smoked a cigarette in his life but does like a drink, but is not an alcoholic.
I smoked on and off but never drank to excess.
My son never drank to excess, but did smoke cigarettes and dope. I tried not to keep nagging him about it. He stopped smoking dope when his daughter was born 10 years ago. I was so proud of him as I knew that he enjoyed it. He said it helped him relax.
He still smoked roll ups though.
I lost my son to lung cancer last September age 34 years . It has been the worst year of my life and everyone on this forum is someone's child,
If I could turn back the clock, I would thrash him and stop him from smoking.
It is a debate that will go on for many a year, we have to take responsibility for our own actions but who knows what is right or wrong, life threatening or not?
All I know is that I cry most days and nights for my only child and wish things were different.