---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I couldn't get ahold of cigarettes…"
description: "\"When I couldn't get ahold of cigarettes, I'd roll coffee grounds into typing paper and smoke that and then vomit.\" — Tig Notaro"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b0/tig-notaro-3660_cigarette_when-i-couldn-t-get-ahold-of-cigarettes_3061921.png"
---

#  When I couldn't get ahold of cigarettes, I'd roll coffee…

![“When I couldn't get ahold of cigarettes, I'd roll coffee grounds into typing paper and smoke that and then vomit.” quote by Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b0/tig-notaro-3660_cigarette_when-i-couldn-t-get-ahold-of-cigarettes_3061921.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b0/tig-notaro-3660_cigarette_when-i-couldn-t-get-ahold-of-cigarettes_3061921.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b0/tig-notaro-3660_cigarette_when-i-couldn-t-get-ahold-of-cigarettes_3061921.png)

> “When I couldn't get ahold of cigarettes, I'd roll coffee grounds into typing paper and smoke that and then vomit.”

[Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Desperate cravings led to a dangerous improvisation, highlighting the absurdity and risk of addiction.

**In simple terms:** Desperation can cause harmful shortcuts.

Key Takeaway

Seek healthier coping methods.

Themes

addiction desperation humor health

Mood

lighthearted reflective

Type

comedic personal

When to use this quote

- stress management
- smoking cessation
- creative problem solving

Key Concepts

behavioral health risk assessment

Questions to Reflect On

- What safer alternatives exist for cravings?
- How does humor help confront addiction?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Cigarette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cigarette/) [Coffee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coffee/) [Smoke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smoke/)

## Related quotes

> [“It was December, I had never felt so cold, the eel soup lay heavy on my stomach, I was afraid I'd die, I turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/it-was-december-i-had-never-felt-so-cold-the-eel-soup-lay-heavy-on-my/)

[Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/)

> [Once in a while it happens that I vomit up a bunny... it's not reason for one to blush and isolate oneself and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julio-cort-zar/once-in-a-while-it-happens-that-i-vomit-up-a-bunny-it-s-not-reason/)

[Julio Cortazar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julio-cort-zar/)

> [“He becomes dizzy and utterly weak, and his spine goes limp and nerveless and he loses all sense of balance. The room is turning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-preston/he-becomes-dizzy-and-utterly-weak-and-his-spine-goes-limp-and/)

[Richard Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-preston/)

> [I rarely find motive in bird vomit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-hodgins/i-rarely-find-motive-in-bird-vomit/)

Jack Hodgins

> [Prior to me coming, I had to stick my thumb in. I asked one time, smell my finger make you vomit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/prior-to-me-coming-i-had-to-stick-my-thumb-in-i-asked-one-time-smell/)

[Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/)

> [“There is much running of vomit and faeces on board this ship. Please stop adding to it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-esslemont/there-is-much-running-of-vomit-and-faeces-on-board-this-ship-please/)

[Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/)

> [This bloke was so pissed, he thought his vomit had come to life!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/this-bloke-was-so-pissed-he-thought-his-vomit-had-come-to-life/)

[Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/)

> [“Throw up" Victor said. Bacteria, he believed, would run up his arms and gain access to his brain through his ear canals. "Vomit. Puke.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tami-hoag/throw-up-victor-said-bacteria-he-believed-would-run-up-his-arms-and/)

[Tami Hoag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tami-hoag/)

> [Just the mere mention of Jay Leno's name makes me to want to vomit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-stern/just-the-mere-mention-of-jay-leno-s-name-makes-me-to-want-to-vomit/)

[Howard Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-stern/)

> [“You want science and studies? Fuck you. I’ve got scars and blood and vomit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-wendler/you-want-science-and-studies-fuck-you-i-ve-got-scars-and-blood-and/)

Jim Wendler

> [What a marshmallow. You should hold out for someone with a stronger stomach. Someone who laughs at the gore that makes weaker men vomit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/what-a-marshmallow-you-should-hold-out-for-someone-with-a-stronger/)

[Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/)

> [OMG YOUR UGLINESS... ITS TOO MUCH!!!! where's the bathroom??? I'm going to vomit!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison/omg-your-ugliness-its-too-much-where-s-the-bathroom-i-m-going-to-vomit/)

[Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison/)

> [A fun thing to do during sex is to stop right in the middle of it to vomit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/a-fun-thing-to-do-during-sex-is-to-stop-right-in-the-middle-of-it-to/)

[Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/)

> [“In Heathrow a vast chunk of memory detached itself from a blank bowl of airport sky and fell on him. He vomited into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/in-heathrow-a-vast-chunk-of-memory-detached-itself-from-a-blank-bowl/)

[William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/)

> [“I’d hate to be forced to drink my own vomit without throwing up, because what if they made me drink that too?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-d-hate-to-be-forced-to-drink-my-own-vomit-without-throwing-up/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

## More by Tig Notaro

> [Reminding myself that I have a tailbone keeps me in check.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/reminding-myself-that-i-have-a-tailbone-keeps-me-in-check/)

[Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/)

> [I think my brain just has a natural way of going to what would be the most insane thing, the least likely option.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/i-think-my-brain-just-has-a-natural-way-of-going-to-what-would-be-the/)

[Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/)

> [Before I had a double mastectomy, I was already pretty flat-chested, and I made so many jokes over the years about how small my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/before-i-had-a-double-mastectomy-i-was-already-pretty-flat-chested/)

[Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/)

> [Even losing my mother, I wanted my mother. That's who you want instinctually when you're having a hard time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/even-losing-my-mother-i-wanted-my-mother-that-s-who-you-want/)

[Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/)

> [I think every person and place is interesting, and there's an interesting story behind every door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/i-think-every-person-and-place-is-interesting-and-there-s-an/)

[Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/)

> [A lot of times, people will have after-parties or try and host an event for comedians, and they misunderstand us. They think it should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/a-lot-of-times-people-will-have-after-parties-or-try-and-host-an/)

[Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/)

> [I'm fascinated by caddy Buddhists popping up all over Hollywood and people that take themselves too seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/i-m-fascinated-by-caddy-buddhists-popping-up-all-over-hollywood-and/)

[Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/)

> [I love devastating movies, documentaries and hummingbirds (yes, in that order).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/i-love-devastating-movies-documentaries-and-hummingbirds-yes-in-that/)

[Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/)

> [I definitely still like writing one-liners, but I also think that I've changed a lot in that I've allowed myself freedom to grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/i-definitely-still-like-writing-one-liners-but-i-also-think-that-i-ve/)

[Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/)

> [I'm the luckiest unlucky person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/i-m-the-luckiest-unlucky-person/)

[Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/)

> [I didn't know whether I'd be attractive to anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/i-didn-t-know-whether-i-d-be-attractive-to-anybody/)

[Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/)

> [The hardest lesson to learn always is to just have faith in that you will always have something to say or a story to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/the-hardest-lesson-to-learn-always-is-to-just-have-faith-in-that-you/)

[Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/)

> [My age makes all my wrinkles and gray hair make sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/my-age-makes-all-my-wrinkles-and-gray-hair-make-sense/)

[Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/)

> [It's almost embarrassing how much support I have. I mean, I always tell people I feel like I'm perfectly set up to have cancer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/it-s-almost-embarrassing-how-much-support-i-have-i-mean-i-always-tell/)

[Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/)

> [I am just at tragedy right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/i-am-just-at-tragedy-right-now/)

[Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/)

[Explore all 125 Tig Notaro quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/)

## More Cigarette quotes

> [“Yeah,' I said and started smoking another cigarette. Unless I inform you otherwise, I'm always smoking another cigarette.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/yeah-i-said-and-started-smoking-another-cigarette-unless-i-inform-you/)

[Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/)

> [Books were always important. I have to thank my father, he filled my life with books. He didn't write but he always read. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rawi-hage/books-were-always-important-i-have-to-thank-my-father-he-filled-my/)

[Rawi Hage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rawi-hage/)

> [The risk of developing carcinoma of the lung increases steadily as the amount smoked increases. If the risk among non-smokers is taken as unity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-doll/the-risk-of-developing-carcinoma-of-the-lung-increases-steadily-as/)

Richard Doll

> [We have too many preacherettes preaching too many sermonettes to too many Christianettes smoking cigarettes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/we-have-too-many-preacherettes-preaching-too-many-sermonettes-to-too/)

[Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/)

> [Since I don't smoke, I decided to grow a mustache - it is better for the health. However, I always carried a jewel-studded cigarette…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-dali/since-i-don-t-smoke-i-decided-to-grow-a-mustache-it-is-better-for-the/)

[Salvador Dali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-dali/)

> [If the fact that people make poor decisions is reason enough for the government to second-guess their decisions about dangerous activities such as smoking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-sullum/if-the-fact-that-people-make-poor-decisions-is-reason-enough-for-the/)

Jacob Sullum

> [“When I was young” … “Before I was twenty, I mean, I used to think that life was a thing that kept gaining impetus,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bowles/when-i-was-young-before-i-was-twenty-i-mean-i-used-to-think-that-life/)

[Paul Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bowles/)

> [They represent tomorrow's cigarette business. . . As this 14-24 age group matures, they will account for a key share of the total cigarette…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-reynolds/they-represent-tomorrow-s-cigarette-business-as-this-14-24-age-group/)

[R. J. Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-reynolds/)

> [If all boys could be made to know that with every breath of cigarette smoke they inhale imbecility and exhale manhood ... and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-maxim/if-all-boys-could-be-made-to-know-that-with-every-breath-of-cigarette/)

Hudson Maxim

> [The ratings thing is the real issue. It really hurts movies. For example, in Redbelt, I smoked. The whole plot of my character was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-mortimer/the-ratings-thing-is-the-real-issue-it-really-hurts-movies-for/)

[Emily Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-mortimer/)

> [I am a completely horizontal author. I can't think unless I'm lying down, either in bed or stretched on a couch and with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/i-am-a-completely-horizontal-author-i-can-t-think-unless-i-m-lying/)

[Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/)

> [They should give until it hurts, maybe a very small thing, maybe just a packet of cigarettes, but instead of by smoking that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/they-should-give-until-it-hurts-maybe-a-very-small-thing-maybe-just-a/)

[Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/)

> [You can accept or reject the way you are treated by other people, but until you heal the wounds of your past, you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/you-can-accept-or-reject-the-way-you-are-treated-by-other-people-but/)

[Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/)

> [Then he bummed a cigarette.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-rogers/then-he-bummed-a-cigarette/)

[Kenny Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-rogers/)

> [You're a religious man, ... You believe in God and life after death. I also believe. When we come to the other world and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-wiesenthal/you-re-a-religious-man-you-believe-in-god-and-life-after-death-i-also/)

[Simon Wiesenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-wiesenthal/)

[Browse all 787 Cigarette quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cigarette/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When I couldn't get ahold of cigarettes, I'd roll coffee grounds into typing paper and smoke that and then vomit.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Tig Notaro"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/when-i-couldn-t-get-ahold-of-cigarettes-i-d-roll-coffee-grounds-into/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Cigarette"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/when-i-couldn-t-get-ahold-of-cigarettes-i-d-roll-coffee-grounds-into/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b0/tig-notaro-3660_cigarette_when-i-couldn-t-get-ahold-of-cigarettes_3061921.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b0/tig-notaro-3660_cigarette_when-i-couldn-t-get-ahold-of-cigarettes_3061921.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b0/tig-notaro-3660_cigarette_when-i-couldn-t-get-ahold-of-cigarettes_3061921.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When I couldn't get ahold of cigarettes, I'd roll coffee grounds into typing paper and smoke that and then…” — Tig Notaro",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Tig Notaro",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When I couldn't get ahold of...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/when-i-couldn-t-get-ahold-of-cigarettes-i-d-roll-coffee-grounds-into/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/when-i-couldn-t-get-ahold-of-cigarettes-i-d-roll-coffee-grounds-into/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
