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Tobacco Addiction
Tobacco products contain nicotine which is a highly addictive substance. Nicotine actually changes the way the brain reacts and affects your moods and actions.
“Quitting is easy, I’ve done it a thousand times.”
The truth is if you are currently smoking or chewing tobacco daily, you are probably addicted to nicotine.
Scientists believe nicotine changes brain chemicals. Nicotine increases the brain chemical, dopamine, which is located in the pleasure center of the brain. Your body becomes used to the increased dopamine levels and its gratifying affects. When you stop using tobacco, the dopamine levels go down and you begin to feel the withdrawal symptoms.
The Characteristics of Addiction include:
- Tolerance – the need for increased amounts of the same substance to get the same effect
“I started smoking four cigarettes a day, but then four wasn’t enough to deal with my stress. Now I find myself needing as much as a pack a day to handle the same stress.”
- Withdrawal - Physical need for nicotine.
“I tried to quit cold turkey, but the cravings were too overwhelming.”
- Psychological – mental inability to stop using tobacco.
“I didn’t know what to do after eating. I didn’t know what to do with my hands, I didn’t know what to do period.”
- Unsuccessful attempts to cut down use.
“I was down to half a pack a day, but then I lost my job, now I’m smoking more than ever.”
- Overwhelming desire to continue using tobacco despite the harmful and negative consequences.
"My doctor told me I need surgery, but I’ll need to quit smoking first. I might have to do without the surgery, because I can’t quit."
- Increased time spent using tobacco.
“I had to miss my sister’s birthday at her favorite restaurant, because I can’t go that long without smoking.”
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