Nicotine Is a Drug: Protect Your Health by Quitting

The dangers associated with smoking are vast. Smoking affects virtually all organs within the body and is attributed to the deaths of more than 440,000 Americans each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Consider that you can take the number of fatalities from suicide, drug and alcohol use, HIV, homicides and auto and motorcycle related injuries and combine them, and deaths attributed to tobacco use will still outnumber them. Smoking has directly contributed to approximately 90 percent of all deaths related to lung cancer in men and 80 percent of lung cancer deaths in women. In addition, 90 percent of deaths linked to chronic obstructive lung diseases are attributed to smoking. With the devastating toll that smoking takes on health, quitting is essential. Lakeview Health can help you quit smoking while you complete our drug rehab program.

Benefits of Quitting

There are many benefits to quitting smoking. These include physical, emotional and financial benefits. Those who quit smoking have a longer life span, and can see their bodies recover from the abuse they endured while smoking. Pregnant women who quit smoking will give their babies a better chance at life. Babies born to women who smoke often have more health problems such as asthma and other respiratory illnesses. Babies born to mothers that smoked during pregnancy often have a lower birth weight.

• EPA Smoke Free Homes: United States Environmental Protection Agency discusses the benefits of raising children in smoke free homes.

Steps to Quitting

Like many things in life, quitting smoking should involve careful planning. Many addicts quit smoking while in drug rehab because they know they will have the extra support. One of the first steps that must be determined is a day that you will quit. For many smokers, however, choosing a specific day to quit smoking often has a greater role in their success. By setting a plan and following it accordingly, you can increase your chances of successfully quitting smoking.

• Smoking and How to Quit:  Women’s Health discusses the benefits and steps to quitting smoking.

Medications

Several prescription and nonprescription medications can be used to quit smoking. Nicotine replacement therapies involve using products that contain some degree of nicotine to wean the body off the drug. At Lakeview Health we use Nicoderm CQ or Chantix to help you successfully quit smoking. Most nicotine-based therapies are readily available over the counter. Prescription-based treatment may involve the use of new drugs that aim to reduce the symptoms of withdrawal and cravings for nicotine. Additionally, there are ongoing clinical trials that aim to study the impact and effects of new drugs, treatments and therapies.

• Clinical Trials: U.S. National Institutes of Health division that focuses on clinical trials related to the use of tobacco and those who smoke.
• Smoking Cessation Productions: FDA 101 looks at a variety of smoking cessation products and medicine.

Staying Smoke-Free

There are several important factors that must be considered after quitting smoking. Withdrawals and cravings are two factors that can cause someone to give up their efforts to quit. Smoking triggers should be identified to give the person who quit their best chance at success. Understanding what may cause you to want to smoke again can help you ensure you are prepared for the challenge. Quitting smoking in drug rehab assures gives you the opportunity of being smoke-free before returning home. Sometimes reflecting on the health benefits and money saved is enough to prevent someone from giving in to temptation. Just remember that the longer someone is smoke-free, the easier it becomes.

• Nicotine Addiction and Withdrawal:  The University of Maryland Medical Center looks at the nature of nicotine addiction and withdrawal symptoms.
• Resolve Program to Quit Smoking: TheOffice of Alcohol and Drug Education at Notre Dame discusses smoking cessation and withdrawals.

Support Groups and Associations

Support groups and associations are an excellent way to get community support to stay smoke-free. There are national associations, such as Nicotine Anonymous, as well as local groups. Technology has enabled many to find support groups online. Sites like Facebook and Twitter can be used to connect those who have given up smoking. Planning for support is one of the most important factors to consider when preparing to quit smoking. Whether journaling, meeting with people in real life or updating your progress via social media networking sites, support groups are a proven key to smoking cessation success.

• Nicotine Anonymous: A nationwide organization that provides resources for those quitting smoking.
• Helpguide.org: Nonprofit group with resources for quitting smoking.

Helpful Websites

There are numerous resources available online that provide information and resources that may be used as tools to help conquer cravings and address withdrawals. The CDC has an expansive site dedicated solely to going smoke-free. Across the nation, state health departments are providing resources for those quitting. Websites can provide information, keep you up to date on news and medical and scientific breakthroughs that are applicable to those quitting smoking and connect users with others in the same life stage.

• Centers for Disease Control/Tobacco: The CDC provides a number of resources for those quitting smoking.
• Be Tobacco-Free: Oklahoma discusses ways to be tobacco free.