$Unique_ID{BRK00862} $Pretitle{} $Title{What Keeps People Smoking?} $Subject{smoking hazards addiction Community Social behavior behaviors smoke smoker addictive smokers psychological physical dependence dependent anxiety tension situations addicted nicotine withdrawal symptoms nausea headaches diarrhea constipation insomnia irritability concentrate concentrating appetite quitting cold turkey headache} $Volume{Q-23} $Log{ The Effects of Smoking*0007301.scf Indirect Problems Caused by Smoking*0007302.scf} Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc. What Keeps People Smoking? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ QUESTION: I can't understand how some people keep smoking, when all the scientific evidence shows it to be a real health hazard. What keeps these people puffing away? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ANSWER: It may be hard to believe, but approximately one-third of all adults still smoke cigarettes. Though some statistics show that smoking has declined in recent years, most of this decrease can be attributed to people who have quit rather than a decrease in people who begin to smoke. Therefore, just as many people seem to be taking up this dangerous habit. Cigarette smoking, like drug use, is addictive. When people begin to smoke, the chances are that eventually they will become "addictive smokers." This means that even if they smoke infrequently at first, gradually, they will build up a desire for repeated cigarettes and ultimately they will have both a psychological and physical dependence on them. Psychologically, the act of smoking becomes addictive, and some people become dependent on it in situations which cause anxiety or tension, or when they simply want to relax. Physically, people become addicted to nicotine, the major substance in tobacco. When one has a craving to smoke, nicotine is inhaled, and the craving subsides. A certain amount of nicotine must be inhaled in order to continually relieve this craving; if not, there are severe withdrawal symptoms, which can last for days, or even months. These symptoms can include nausea, headaches, diarrhea, constipation, insomnia, irritability, an inability to concentrate, and an increase in appetite. Another reason that people continue to smoke, therefore, is because it is so difficult to quit. However, people do quit, and most individuals do so on their own, without any professional help. For those people who can not quit on their own, programs are offered by organizations such as the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, and American Lung Association. These programs have about a 25% success rate. It seems that quitting "cold turkey" is a better strategy than gradually reducing the number of cigarettes smoked. Studies have shown that people can generally cut down to about twelve cigarettes a day, but they are unable to reduce their smoking further, because each remaining cigarette becomes more and more important to them. It becomes extremely difficult to eliminate them. There are people who successfully quit, and then for one reason or another start up again. This usually occurs very soon after the person has quit, and is usually triggered by stress and anxiety. However, the chances are very good that if someone has been without a cigarette for a year or more, they will remain "cigarette free." There are many social support systems and other kinds of reinforcement that a person can seek if the urge to smoke occurs. Support from one's spouse, family members, or friends can help to reduce the likelihood of relapse. And more and more today, Family Physicians are getting active in the most important medical care of all, preventing diseases caused by tobacco use. But regardless of the support systems available, the most important factor in determining whether a person will be able to achieve and maintain a life free from cigarettes is the level of their own motivation to do so. ---------------- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.