Tired of smoking and want to quit? Do you know of someone who is struggling to stop using cigarettes?
Quitting alone is a tough task and it is rare that people addicted to nicotine can just stop and below you will be able to find out what makes it such a difficult drug to quit.
What is Nicotine?
Nicotine is a highly addictive, brain stimulating drug commonly found in tobacco.
The effect that Nicotine creates is almost instantaneous as one puff of a cigarette causes an increase in heart rate and blood pressure making it one of the toughest addictions to quit.
Signs and Symptoms of Nicotine Addiction
When an addicted individual is unable to get their ‘fix’ of the substance, they suffer from something called Nicotine withdrawal.
Nicotine withdrawal causes feelings of anxiety, stress, irritation, migraines and a craving for cigarettes.
The reducing or cutting down of smoking may also cause these symptoms, which may happen between 12 and 24 hours since last use of the drug and will peak around 2 and 3 days later.
Other effects that may be experienced are loss of appetite, sweating, nausea, diarrhoea, drowsiness, depression, loss of concentration and sleeplessness.
Long term use of Nicotine may cause cancer, heart disease and pregnancy problems in females.
Nicotine Addiction Treatment
There are various forms of treatment available for people addicted to Nicotine and this may sometimes be a disadvantage rather than an advantage, as it could confuse the individual into picking the right one for them.
There are various supplements available to those who want to quit their addiction. They come in the form of chewing gums, skin patches and even nasal sprays.
There is also prescription medicine available to help assist those feeling the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
However, before doing any of the above, it’s important that you discuss this with a medical professional in order to avoid any complications.
One of the best ways to quit smoking is by attending therapy programs such as Narcotics Anonymous, which is a type of self-help treatment method where addicts are encouraged to help one another through sharing their own experiences and finding ways on how to avoid the substance.
For more information on treatment options and rehabilitation methods available for you or a loved one, please feel free to contact us now and our qualified addictions counsellor will gladly assist in putting you in the right direction.