Only about six percent of smokers are able to quit in any given year. Most people trying to stop will need to make multiple attempts before they are able to quit permanently. There are medications that can help you quit smoking, and behavioral therapy is effective as well.
There are a variety of reasons why nicotine is addictive, but one factor is that the high is much shorter than with other drugs. Nicotine is absorbed quickly in the blood and delivered rapidly to the brain, with nicotine levels peaking within 10 seconds of inhalation. A rush of endorphins after ingesting nicotine leads to a brief feeling of euphoria. This feeling dissipates so quickly, however, that many smokers will light a new cigarette immediately after finishing one in an effort to keep chasing pleasurable effects. Nicotine also increases levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the reward circuits of the brain, which reinforces the behavior of taking the drug.
Nicotine not only affects the body quickly, but withdrawal symptoms can come on rapidly as well, sometimes within a few hours of your last cigarette. Going for a long period without nicotine can cause a frequent smoker to experience irritability, cravings, depression, anxiety, cognitive and attention deficits, sleep disturbances, and increased appetite. Feeling any of these symptoms is a good indication that you have an addiction. Other warning signs are an inability to stop despite repeated attempts and refusal to stop despite health problems. There is a quiz available online through the National Cancer Institute to help you determine whether you have an addiction.
While lung cancer is probably the most well-known danger of smoking, the toxins from cigarettes are carried through your blood and into every organ in the body. Smokers have much higher rates of heart disease, stroke, and cancer than nonsmokers do. Long-term smoking is also associated with cognitive decline and a risk of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Research has shown that smokers who receive a combination of behavioral treatment and cessation medications quit at higher rates than those who try to stop without assistance. One of the medications that can help you quit smoking is varenicline (sold under the brand name Chantix), which blocks the pleasant effects of smoking from the brain. It’s usually taken for 12 weeks. Bupropion (which is known by the name Wellbutrin when taken for depression and Zyban as a stop-smoking aid) is thought to work by releasing additional dopamine, which helps reduce the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.
Another effective smoking cessation aid is Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), which works by providing the body with nicotine to help reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings. These are available as patches, lozenges, gum, inhalers, and nasal sprays. NRT won’t completely take away the urge to smoke, but it can lessen cravings.
If you or a loved one need help to quit drugs or alcohol, consider Asana Recovery. We offer medical detox, along with both residential and outpatient programs, and you’ll be supervised by a highly trained staff of medical professionals, counselors, and therapists. Call us any time at (949) 438-4504.
