I seem to remember that young people like to try things out as a natural process of growing up and smoking is well known to be one of these things. Most people, rather unwisely, try smoking in youth and most recognise it for a the disgusting, expensive, filthy, degenerate, dangerous, selfish, irresponsible habit that it is. Actually I quite liked it, especially cigars, but being very thrifty I could never do something that is literally sending money up in smoke.