But Moses says his reason for smoking became even clearer in the past few days.

Last week, while saying good night to a friend, Moses says he pleaded for them to have just one more cigarette. The friend finally gave in, and the two smoked in the rain for a few minutes.

Moses then headed toward his home in Allston. Right when he was crossing a bridge, a car spun out of control and flipped over.

Moses, who says he was the only other person in sight, ran over to the victim in the car and pulled him out to safety.

Moses says having that last cigarette delayed him just enough to place him in the right place at the right time to help the man who was trapped get out of his car.

"Because I smoked a cigarette, somebody was saved," Moses says. "If smoking was meant for me to have this providential moment, then it was well worth it."

Social Smoking

Other Harvard students attribute their nicotine addiction to purely social reasons.

Janet K. McLaughlin '99 says smoking brings her in contact with the kinds of people she wants to hang out with.

"It's relaxing, it's social, and it's social with the kinds of people I want to be with--the ones who aren't worried about what's down the road and who live for the moment," she says.

Smoking also gives McLaughlin a much-needed break from the stresses of studying.

"It's always and still is a good study break to go and have a cigarette," she says.

McLaughlin says she knows about the harmful health effects of smoking but tries hard not to think about them.

"I'm in college," she says. "It's time to have fun and not worry about stuff like that."

In fact, McLaughlin says she thinks everyone should indulge in vices once in a while.