Quick question

Look, I’m asking the "experts" here to hold their tongues and not jump down my throat immediately...
I'm 14 years old—and yeah, I smoke—but I wouldn't call myself a heavy user. It’s just maybe three cigarettes every couple of days... nothing where I feel like I've actually become an addict yet.
But here's the thing: a friend of mine was telling me that rolling your own tobacco is somehow better because it doesn't have all that tar and those nasty additives found in factory stuff...
So, what am I looking at? Carbon monoxide? I am fully aware that smoking is incredibly bad for you—and believe me, I know I could quit if I wanted to...
The problem is, I don't want to. Whether it's standard cigarettes or the hand-rolled kind, we all know both are terrible for the lungs...
My question is this: between those two specific options, which one is actually more damaging?

I’m pretty sure they teach kids in elementary school that nicotine and tar are the primary culprits in cigarette smoke. You can't have tobacco without the tar.

And next time, I'd appreciate it if you could leave the rudeness out of it.

I used to be a heavy smoker myself, and honestly, I started out just like you did.
For a long time—maybe 14 or 15 years, if I’m being precise—I kept telling myself I wasn't actually addicted, which was really just a way to cope with the reality of the situation.
To be perfectly honest, most smokers will try to convince you that rolling your own is somehow less damaging.
The logic—if you can call it that—is usually some argument about how you aren't inhaling "glass wool" or whatever other nonsense they pack into commercial cigarette filters, or how you're avoiding those industrial additives and factory defects, blah, blah, blah.
In short—and I mean quite literally—it is the exact same s*hit, just in different packaging.
Now, granted, there are some incredibly high-quality, refined "healthier" tobacco blends available for rolling these days—but let's be real, they aren't exactly budget-friendly for everyone.

Ultimately, you’re just kidding yourself. If you’re lighting up regularly—even if it’s just a couple of cigarettes a day—you’re a smoker, and you’ve established a habit. Consistency is what defines an addiction, after all.

However, if you’re hell-bent on continuing: if you believe rolling your own tobacco is somehow "better," it isn't because there's less tar, but rather because there are fewer artificial additives and preservatives involved.
I know long-term smokers who made the switch to roll-your-own and noticed they didn't deal with that heavy morning cough anymore; they simply felt better overall. So, if you absolutely must smoke, go with the loose tobacco, but do yourself a favor and grab some decent filters while you're at it.

ironsurfer8 said:Honestly, you’re just lying to yourself at this point—if you’re lighting up regularly (even if it's just a couple of sticks here and there), you’re a smoker and you’ve got the habit. Consistency is what defines an addict, plain and simple.

But look, if you’re dead set on smoking: yeah, rolling your own tobacco is a better move. Not because it magically lacks tar—don't be naive—but because it generally has fewer of those nasty artificial preservatives and additives you find in commercial brands.
I actually know some long-term smokers who made the switch to roll-your-own and realized they didn't deal with that hacking morning cough anymore; they just felt better overall. So, if you absolutely insist on doing this, go with the loose tobacco, but for heaven's sake, grab some filters too.

Those tiny little filters are basically useless,🙂
Thanks for the input, everyone... if anyone else happens to be hanging around and feels like weighing in, I'd really appreciate it.🙂