|
|
|
|
Is nicotine more addictive than heroin? Many authorities say yes. What they forgot to tell us when we were teens, as we were putting that first cigarette to our lips while trying to look so darn cool and all grown-up, was that nicotine is an extremely addictive drug. For some, it takes just a few puffs or a few cigarettes before the body begins its endless nicotine crave cycle. Did you know that 90% of all smokers became addicted while teenagers? So who were we really trying to imitate, real adults who were smart enough to never start, or the 90% of addicted teens who simply grew older? If 90% of all smokers start as teenagers, what age group are the tobacco companies (run by adults) working hard to addict? 1
Do you consider yourself addicted to nicotine? Are you a drug addict? Do you live from fix to fix? How is addiction defined? Although definitions vary a bit, most include the following factors: (1) a dependance on the substance; (2) its compulsive use; (3) tolerance; (4) damage to the user; and (5) withdrawal symptoms once the substance is taken away. Hi! My name is John and I?m a ?nicoholic!? Oh, I'm quit and totally comfortable now but but like true alcoholics, nicoholics, always remain just a few puffs away from full relapse.
The tobacco companies successfully addict over 3,000 new teenagers in the U.S. each and every day. That?s over one million teens each year. CDC statistics show that most teens want to quit, have tried to quit (73%), but few have been successful (13%). I guess misery does love company because, sadly, many addicted teens help their friends and classmates join the ranks of nicotine addicts.
And where does all the drug money go? It goes to the local seller (a drug pusher of sorts), to the tobacco company (the drug supplier), to the tobacco farmer (the grower) and to Uncle Sam, as he takes his tax slice of the drug pie. I?m convinced that millions of adults would rather see our youth continue to become addicted and take their money, rather than to stop or control this madness. Here in the South, you can?t go into any supermarket, pharmacy (that?s a kicker), bowling alley, gas station or restaurant without someone or some machine offering to sell you nicotine.
Over 1,000,000 teens will become addicted this year, while over 434,000 humans will die from smoking related diseases. That?s four (4) times as many people as killed annually by all other drugs, car accidents, suicides, homicides, and AIDS deaths combined. How many mothers would go out and purchase heroin to give their teen a drug fix? There were 4,175 heroin related deaths reported in 1995. Mom, your child is 100 times more likely to die from smoking related causes than heroin related ones.
We need to change the way we look at tobacco and nicotine addiction. Is it cool to smell like an ashtray, have bad breath and watch your teeth grow stained while your gums grow diseased? Is it cool to live life from cigarette crave to cigarette crave? Is it cool to give control of your life to Nicodemon?s commands, to become his slave? How strong is Nicodemon? Well, for every 20 tobacco quits that smokers attempt, only one succeeds. It was supposed to be cool, remember?
Our newly addicted youth can almost feel the tar and other chemicals as it build and gradually impairs their breathing. They can feel the damage while trying to run, swim, dance, sing or engage in other energetic activities? They don't have to wait on lung cancer, emphysema or heart disease before seeing tobacco?s awesome power. For most, it will happen shortly after their first few cigarettes, when Nicodemon commands them to get another fix, NOW!
If you want to see where nicotine addiction can lead then read Sean's, Noni's, Bryan's, Kim's, or the tragic stories of others. Nicotine never lets up, the accelerated decay and damage never takes a break, and breaking free will never be easier than it is today. Take a quick peek at how thousands are breaking free with the help of serious online education, support and counseling. The site is called Freedom from Tobacco and it's a classroom and support group all rolled into one. Knowledge is power! We hope you'll join us!
Breathe deep, hug hard, and live long!
John R. Polito, Founder, WhyQuit.com
| WhyQuit.Com | Freedom | Joel's Library |