Tobacco is an addictive mood altering substance and for alcoholics and drug addicts in recovery, it is a no-no.Studies have shown that smokers of cigarettes relapse back into drug and/or alcohol at a much, much higher rate than non-smokers.
When people are addicted, they have a compulsive need to seek out and use a substance, even when they understand the harm it can cause. Tobacco products—cigarettes, cigars or pipes, and smokeless tobacco—all can lead to addiction. Everyone knows that smoking is bad for you, and most people that do it want to quit. In fact, nearly 35 million people make a serious attempt to quit each year. Unfortunately, most who try to quit on their own relapse—often within a week.
Is Nicotine Addictive?
Yes. It is actually the nicotine in tobacco that is addictive. Each cigarette contains about 10 milligrams of nicotine. Because the smoker inhales only some of the smoke from a cigarette, and not all of each puff is absorbed in the lungs, a smoker gets about 1 to 2 milligrams of the drug from each cigarette. Although that may not seem like much, it is enough to make someone addicted.
Is Nicotine the Only Harmful Part of Tobacco?
No. Nicotine is only one of more than 4,000 chemicals, many of which are poisonous, found in the smoke from tobacco products. Smokeless tobacco products also contain many toxins, as well as high levels of nicotine. Many of these other ingredients are things we would never consider putting in our bodies, like tar, carbon monoxide, acetaldehyde, and nitrosamines. Tar causes lung cancer, emphysema, and bronchial diseases. Carbon monoxide causes heart problems, which is one reason why smokers are at high risk for heart disease.
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Your right about that. The mental and physical addiction to cigarettes only perpetuates the desire to indulge in other harmful substances.
Everyone KNOWS it’s bad, but they still continue do it!!!
So often recovering addicts who seek to stop the cycle of drug addiction use cigarettes as a replacement that it is almost an accepted practice. Apparently this is not such a great idea after all.
I was able to give up smoking after picturing myself in 10 years time, not being able to climb a flight of stairs because I was so out of condition. That’s what all the smokers I knew were like.
Try it – it works!
.-= Gemma@Unique Gifts´s last blog ..Drum Kit Alarm Clock =-.
I agree with this study smokers of cigarettes relapse back into drug and/or alcohol at a much, much higher rate than non-smokers.
My uncle was one of them who was experienced about drug and smoker.
.-= เรียนต่อต่างประเทศ´s last blog ..เที่ยวเมืองจีนกันเถอะ =-.
Smoking is a nasty, deadly habit…yet it’s still marketed heavily.
Never been a smoker myself…but I see how others can’t function without their daily doses.
Quit smoking 2 years ago, cold turkey! It was hard and I put on a little weight. The good thing though is that now i have taken my breath back. I am going to the gym again and I am not out of breath after a 5 minutes run! The best decision of my Life!