Recession, smecession. While media worry-warts keep pondering when this 2008 U.S. recession will begin, some of those with impeccable market timing may be looking at picking up a few sin stocks for their portfolios before all this doom and gloom hits.

Fact is that recessions are an integral part of any capitalist society, and they can be beneficial to those market watchers who go against the grain when everyone else isn't looking. 30 years ago, some were wondering if capitalism could survive. Fast-forward to 2008: that's affirmative.

What can you do to survive a coming recession this year? Instead of taking all your money from stocks and stuffing it under the couch, how about picking up sin stocks? These are stocks that involve companies that make and market vices like tobacco and alcohol.

Because -- of course -- widespread talks of a recession can prompt widespread depression. That, in turn, can cause abnormal amounts of the population to being puffing and drinking their portfolio and gas price worries away. Some example are Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE: MO), Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. (NYSE: BUD) and even the Ladenburg-Thalmann Gaming and Casino Fund (NASDAQ: GACFX).