Adam, my parents took the bull by the horns. They actually made me and my brothers take a drag on their own cigarette. It was awful for all three of us -- we hacked, got sick, turned grey. One brother and I grew up to be adamant non-smokers, and the other brother smokes to this day.
I believe I DID address the root of the question: why do people start smoking, even in light of its obviously being bad for you? One big reason: the diligent efforts of tobacco companies to manipulate young people through aggressive marketing that appeals to their little unconscious minds.
Sorry to beat a dead horse, but it had emphysema and I was beating the tar out of it.
