It is an addiction. He might not want to actually die, it might be that he just can't quit. I think that a person has to want to quit smoking in order to succeed in doing so. All the education about the harms of smoking probably isn't going to help your friend either but it won't hurt to educate him. The major issue that needs to be instilled in him is that smoking near portable oxygen equipment has resulted in explosions and fires. Not only could he injure or kill himself but others could be at risk too if he's smoking near it in a home or area with other people. Read the following link: http://www.reporternews.com/news/2007/jul/18/fire-victim-was-smoking-using-oxygen-machine/ A lot of it might be your friends age too. Many elderly people (and younger people your friends age) feel that they have been smoking all their life and may feel that it would do no good to quit now since the damage is already done. Plus for many, it may be one of the few enjoyments left in their life. And many just don't have the determination or drive to quit. Maybe they have tried in the past and didn't succeed so they don't want to feel that failure again. Additionally, once people have cancer, most don't want to kid themselves into thinking that if they quit now that it will save their life. Read this link; http://whyquit.com/pr/101005.html But the bottom line is, I would guess that your friend really doesn't have a death wish, but rather is addicted so much that he just doesn't believe that he can quit.