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Nicotine Dependence
What are the signs of nicotine dependence?
Some characteristics of nicotine dependence are:
- smoking the first cigarette within 30 minutes of waking up in the morning.
- smoking atleast one pack of cigarettes a day.
- craving at times when you can't smoke or don't have any cigarettes.
- having difficulty restraining from a cigarette for more than a few hours.
- smoking even when ill.
How does nicotine work?
Nicotine affects the brain and the nervous system. Nicotine reaches the brain within seven seconds of entering the body. This happens faster than any other drug that enters the body.
What are the effects of nicotine?
- Nicotine is a deadly poison. It increases a person's heart rate and forces the body to use more oxygen.
- Nicotine also affects the circulatory system by narrowing the blood vessels, because of which blood has more difficulty moving through the body causing a person's blood pressure to increase.
- Nicotine also increases a person's chance of developing blood clots and diseases of the blood vessels and the heart.
How fast can one get addicted to nicotine?
The process of graduation from first use to addiction can take months or even years. In fact, initial experiences are sometimes negative and require peer pressure and other factors to maintain exposure.
Over time, smokers become physically dependent on nicotine and need to smoke just to feel normal.
Teenagers are unaware of, or underestimate, the strength of nicotine addiction, which almost always begins during adolescence.What is Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)?
Smokers who smoke 10 or more cigarettes per day benefit by using some type of NRT during the quitting programme. Smokers who use nicotine replacement therapy and participate in behaviour change programme double their chances of quitting. These aids also help relieve some of the withdrawal symptoms when quitting.
Do nicotine replacement products, like gum or sprays work?
Nicotine replacement products do work by helping the individual keep himself away from nicotine. This method should be used in conjunction with behaviour modification. The individual needs to learn how to stay without tobacco. All activities that make a person want to use nicotine need to be replaced with something else like taking a brisk walk, deep breathing. Nicotine replacement used with behaviour modification will increase chances to quit tobacco.
Some suggestions for quitting nicotine dependency:
- Nicotine replacement therapy methods such as chewing gum, tablets, nasal sprays ease withdrawal symptoms such as cravings and mood changes.
- Bupropion (trade-name Zyban), which does not contain nicotine, can help an addicted smoker resist the urge to smoke.
- Pinpoint locations that are associated with smoking and change the routine.
- Don't give up. Success may come after a relapse. Try again, keeping in mind what might have triggered the setback.
- Remember, it is difficult, but not impossible.