Smoking Addiction Prevention Includes All Tobacco Products
Make sure your kids understand there are other tobacco products besides cigarettes. It might seem obvious to you, but kids may not know pipe smoking, cigars and chewing tobacco are also harmful and potentially addictive.
E-cigarettes also called vapor or vape cigarettes do not contain tobacco, but they do contain nicotine and other harmful chemicals. Some teens and young adults turn to vapor cigarettes believing them to be a healthier alternative to tobacco smoke. Its important you help your kids understand any nicotine product is harmful, whether its a pack of cigarettes, a pinch of chewing tobacco or a vapor cigarette.
How Long After Stopping Weed Does Memory Improve
Memory begins to improve two days to one week after a person stops using marijuana. It is during these times that brain receptors start to return to normal function. Brain receptors are responsible for regulating neurological processes such as memory, learning, motivation, pleasure, and fine motor control.
Four weeks to several months after quitting marijuana, brain receptors have returned to normal function. Attention span, mental acuity, and memory improve a lot during this time.
Social Smokers Aren’t Hooked On Nicotine Just Smoking
Social smokers usually don’t light up alone, and they often limit cigarettes to weekends or after-hours.Theres a species of smoker among us that is common yet poorly understood. Their habitat consists of parties, barbecues, and the sidewalks outside bars and restaurants. They prefer to scrounge for their cigarettes, and if they do buy a pack, theyre apt to nurse it for a week or more. You may hear them say, “Im not a smoker,” or “Only on weekends.”
These are “social smokers”and there are more of them than you might think.
Smoking is often characterized as an all-or-nothing activityon doctors office questionnaires its usually a yes-or-no question, for instancebut by some estimates, anywhere from one-fifth to one-third of adults who smoke dont light up every day. While some of these so-called nondaily smokers smoke regularly but sparingly, up to 30% likely fall into the social-smoker category.
More about smoking
“If Im out drinking, or hanging out with people who are smoking, then I usually get the urge to smoke,” says Vickie, 45, from New York City. “But I might smoke Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and then not smoke for a week.”
Social smoking is often compared with social drinkingthat is, the social smoker is to the “real” smoker what the casual weekend drinker is to the alcoholic. Even if social smokers go a little overboard sometimes, their behavior is still fundamentally different.
Read Also: Why Am I Addicted To Alcohol
Signs And Symptoms Of Marijuana Addiction
1. You develop a tolerance
2. You feel a need to use marijuana regularly
3. You stop doing other things so you can get high instead
4. You continue to use weed and get high even after seeing it causes disruption and chaos in your life
5. You ignore your daily responsibilities to get high
6. Constantly thinking about the next time you can get high
7. You experience withdrawal symptoms
Why Do Some People Get Addicted To Smoking And Others Not
The question pretty much says it all. Some of my friends will have a cigarette now and then and not need to do it often. Others need to step out to smoke several times in an evening.
Do you need to actually begin a smoking habit to become addicted to it? I cant picture someone just having their first cigarette and then developing an addiction just from that.
Ive heard about addictive personalities. Is that the key to this issue?
Ive had about 4 or 5 cigarettes in my life and never seen the point. The taste is nothing to write home about, its harsh on my throat, and most importantly, I never got the fabled rush everyone talks about. Maybe some people just arent affected by nicotine.
I definitely feel the effect of nicotine but I just dont feel like I need it all the time. I never have. Some people seem to need it all the time.
Many years ago there was another thread on this topic – Im not even going to search for it, because it was at least 5 or 6 years ago, and I dont have the time.
There was a guy who replied who claimed to be an MD who specialized in nicotine addiction and research. He claimed that about 5% of the population is not able to become physically addicted to nicotine. Whatever it is about nicotine that makes it addictive just doesnt effect them.
I think its a combination of habituation and some sort of chemical dependence.
I cant explain it, but I am one of those people that has just never become addicted to smoking.
Don’t Miss: How To Break Addiction To Phone
Flush Out Nicotine From Your Body
When you stop smoking for a few hours, the nicotine left in your blood will make you crave for more cigarettes. For a new smoker, it may take only a day or two to get rid of nicotine from your system, but with a heavy smoker, nicotine can accumulate in bodys tissues, and the process may take a year.
Proper food intake is a good choice to aid nicotine elimination and ease withdrawal symptoms effectively. If you want to know, click TOP 12 FOODS THAT WILL FLUSH OUT NICOTINE FROM YOUR BODY to find out! However, there are still plenty methods to boost the nicotine elimination process even more. If you are curious, click this article to know the full guide on HOW TO GET NICOTINE OUT FROM YOUR SYSTEM!
The Cycle Of The Smoking Habit
The cycle of the smoking habit and nicotine addiction is one that many find hard to quit. Thankfully, there are safer options to get your fix, like vaping. The more you smoke, the more your body needs to sustain those pleasurable feelings. Over time, you will develop a smoking routine that integrates with social activities, work schedules, and other triggers.
For instance, as soon as the phone rings, you may grab a cup of coffee and light-up as a source of habit. You probably arent even aware that youre doing these things because they become second nature.
Triggers are another significant part of nicotine addiction. Do you notice that when you are stressed out, you reach for your cigarettes to calm you down? If the problems of the day are grating on your nerves, you may find solace in a couple of cigarettes in the great outdoors.
The cycle of smoking means that if you want to keep feeling the pleasure that calms you down, you need to keep smoking. Once you break that cycle, your body goes through withdrawal.
Read Also: How To Stop Marijuana Addiction
Is Marijuana A Gateway Drug
Marijuana is not generally considered a “gateway drug” because the majority of those who use weed do not go on to use harder substances, including cocaine and heroin.
Social environment might be a more critical factor in determining someone’s risk for trying harder drugs.
If someone is vulnerable to getting involved with drugs, they generally start with substances that are readily available, such as alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana.
However, a person is also likely to start using the same substances that are used by the people in their social environment, no matter how addictive the drug.
Questions To Ask Yourself
Take the time to think of what kind of smoker you are, which moments of your life call for a cigarette, and why. This will help you to identify which tips, techniques, or therapies may be most beneficial for you.
Are you a very heavy smoker ? Or are you more of a social smoker? Would a simple nicotine patch do the job?
Are there certain activities, places, or people you associate with smoking? Do you feel the need to smoke after every meal or whenever you break for coffee?
Do you reach for cigarettes when youre feeling stressed or down? Or is your cigarette smoking linked to other addictions, such as alcohol or gambling?
Start your stop smoking plan with START
S = Set a quit date.
Choose a date within the next two weeks, so you have enough time to prepare without losing your motivation to quit. If you mainly smoke at work, quit on the weekend, so you have a few days to adjust to the change.
T = Tell family, friends, and co-workers that you plan to quit.
Let your friends and family in on your plan to quit smoking and tell them you need their support and encouragement to stop. Look for a quit buddy who wants to stop smoking as well. You can help each other get through the rough times.
A = Anticipate and plan for the challenges youll face while quitting.
Most people who begin smoking again do so within the first three months. You can help yourself make it through by preparing ahead for common challenges, such as nicotine withdrawal and cigarette cravings.
Don’t Miss: How Long Does It Take To Become Addicted To Oxycontin
Addicted To Smoking: The Top Drugs Considered Most Addictive
For many years, researchers have been busy trying to figure out the most addictive drugs in the world. Factors they used to determine the addictiveness of these drugs is how their users tolerate them after repeated use. Another factor is how grave the withdrawal symptoms of the drugs are.
Without much ado, here is the list of the worlds most addictive drugs ranked from first to last, and where smoking stands.
Why Is Nicotine Addictive
The first cigarette you smoke wont always be pleasant. Many people report feeling dizzy and having an upset stomach. These feelings may be accompanied by a headache too. However, as you continue to smoke, your body builds resistance to the drug, and the effects are no longer bothersome.
The body quickly builds tolerance and needs more to bring the same euphoric feeling. Once you set a pattern and smoke so many cigarettes each day, your body learns to adjust, and it craves that same level of nicotine to function. The pleasurable effects are hard to live without.
Additionally, the addiction disrupts the bodys natural balance, and without cigarettes, you will no longer feel normal. Just like any other addiction, there are many psychological components as well as physical ones.
Also Check: How Do You Become An Addiction Counselor
How To Stop Being Addicted To A Cigarette: Putting An End To Cigarette Use
You have just taken the bold step to quit smoking. Bravo! You have got some courage trust me. The first day and the days after might be the most difficult periods of your life.
But if you hold still, believe in yourself, and apply some essential tips, you will surely overcome.
Here are ideas to keep you going:
Nicotine Activates Reward Circuit In Humans Brain
It takes only 10 seconds for nicotine to get to brain cells. After reaching the brain, nicotine brings pleasure to smokers by causing a transient rise in endorphins level neurochemicals that are responsible for relieving pain and stress.
The surge is much briefer than other addictive substances like heroin or cocaine, but the rule of developing addict is the same. After nicotine kicks in, it releases a neurotransmitter called dopamine in reward circuit. This neurotransmitter will reinforce the action and make smokers seek nicotine again and again to get the reward.
Second of all, tobacco is more acceptable socially: in comparison to other illicit addictive substances like marijuana, heroin or cocaine cigarette is legal all around the world. Despite the utmost effort of the government, tobacco is still much cheaper than those drugs, and you can buy a pack of cigarettes from any stores.
How long does it take to get addicted to nicotine compared to heroin or cocaine? It may take longer to get addicted to nicotine as the effect of heroin or cocaine on the brain is stronger, but it will be much more difficult to quit it as you can satisfy your craving so easily.
Recommended Reading: How To Stop Drug Addiction At Home
Tobacco Facts: Nicotine Adrenaline Rush
One of the well-known tobacco facts is that immediately after exposure to nicotine, there is a “kick” caused in part by the drug’s stimulation of the adrenal glands and resulting discharge of epinephrine . The rush of adrenaline stimulates the body and causes a sudden release of glucose, as well as an increase in blood pressure, respiration, and heart rate. Nicotine also suppresses insulin output from the pancreas, which means that smokers, especially those with cigarette addiction, are always slightly hyperglycemic . The calming effect of nicotine reported by many users, especially those with cigarette addiction, is usually associated with a decline in nicotine withdrawal effects rather than direct effects of nicotine.
- Lowinson, Joyce H., Substance Abuse: A Comprehensive Textbook, p. 390, 2005.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse
- Bornemisza P, Suciu I. Effect of cigarette smoking on the blood glucose level in normals and diabetics. Med Interne 18 :353-6, 1980.
- Federal Trade Commission. “Tar,” nicotine, and carbon monoxide of the smoke of 1294 varieties of domestic cigarettes for the year 1998. Federal Trade Commission, 2000.
- Benowitz NL. Pharmacology of nicotine: addiction and therapeutics. Ann Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 36:597-613, 1996.
Why Individuals Addicted To Smoking Are Having Difficulty Quitting
Nicotine withdrawal isnt an easy thing. But with massive effort and the mind made up, one can quit smoking for good. Lets take a bicycle, for example. It takes a bit of time and constant practice to learn how to ride one.
Now, here is a simple question can you unlearn how to ride a bicycle after spending years riding one? A difficult question, isnt it? Thats what nicotine does to the brain. It teaches the brain to cherish smoking. Thats what pushes people to smoke. They have experienced short-term pleasure and feel they need to consume more sticks to continue enjoying it.
However, there is a lot of science behind why people have difficulty saying goodbyes to smoking. But millions of people have summoned the courage and achieved it. So you too can become an ex-smoker, trust me.
Also Check: How To Get An Addict To Seek Help
Try To Live In A Healthy Environment
Environment is a central contribution to adjust how long does it take to get addicted to nicotine. Try to shift to a cleaner community or seek for help from friends, family to get some help and advice when you are feeling stress to prevent you from smoking. If you are trying to stay away from tobacco, it is also a good choice to make friends with people who have the same goal with you.
Keep Yourself Super Busy
An idle mind will make it harder to handle the cravings that will greet you on your quit day. So, dont give room for that to happen. Think of activities you can do to keep yourself busy.
Examples include exercising, chewing gum, watch movies, and drink a lot of water, take a walk, and keep your hands busy all day. The list is long. Just do something that will make your mind off smoking.
You should also stay away from friends or places that remind you of this act. Keep your distances. Otherwise, you may find yourself going back to this act.
Also Check: How To Treat Internet Addiction
Why Am I Not Addicted To Cigarettes
Dear Stanton:
I am 30 years old and essentially a non-smoker. Most everyone I know is a non-smoker. The other night I was in a bar with some friends, all except one non-smokers. Because the one smoker was smoking, two of my non-smoker friends had a cigarette, as did I. On talking, I discovered that these two people, like my wife and I, occasionally smoke a cigarette in social situations, but have never been addicted smokers or had any trouble quitting.
In college I smoked a cigarette or two most days, and sometimes more. I never consciously quit smoking, never had cravings and never had any trouble not smoking when it didnt fit in with my surroundings. Both of my sisters smoked when they were younger, both more than I did, but they each quit in their mid-20s with no special effort. I believe each of them will still occasionally have a cigarette in social situations.
I have seen some rather extreme statistics, that 90 % of smokers are addicted and that a person who smokes 4 cigarettes is not likely to quit until he/she smokes 400,000 more.
While I am certainly aware of the addictive power of cigarettes, it seems from my own experience and those of so many people I know that these statistics must be exaggerated.
What do you know about non-addicted smokers? How many of us are there? Why have we, without any special effort, been able to do what the popular press thinks is impossible?
Thanks in advance for your reply.
John
Dear John:
Stanton
Dear Stanton,
Thanks again.
Why Is Nicotine So Addictive
Despite smokings bad press and all the efforts of the government to prevent smoking, there are still about one billion smokers and 7 million deaths a year caused by smoking around the world. The culprit here is nicotine- the main active ingredient in tobacco. Nicotine itself is not a lethal compound to human, but it is highly addictive which make people cant stop smoking and inhaling multiple other toxins in cigarettes. So why nicotine is so highly addictive?
Read Also: How To Treat Opioid Addiction
Helping A Loved One To Stop Smoking
Its important to remember that you cannot make a friend or loved one give up cigarettes the decision has to be theirs. But if they do make the decision to stop smoking, you can offer support and encouragement and try to ease the stress of quitting. Investigate the different treatment options available and talk them through with the smoker just be careful never to preach or judge. You can also help a smoker overcome cravings by pursuing other activities with them, and by keeping smoking substitutes, such as gum, on hand.
If a loved one slips or relapses, dont make them feel guilty. Congratulate them on the time they went without cigarettes and encourage them to try again. Your support can make all the difference in helping your loved one eventually kick the habit for good.
