[Marie]

The question remains why poor people continue to bear the monetary burden of smoking when money is tight and children are hungry or need medicine.

My point is that they are getting something positive out of it that is worth the cost. Relief from mental illness, relief from hunger, reduction of pain... As I said, maybe you should have some compassion for poor people and get off your high horse.

[Drango]

compassion for poor people

Are you conflating poor people with smokers? The two are HIGHLY correlated. But many, many poor people don't smoke.