Newsletter

Research on Tobacco and
(contd.)
Addiction
Bill W., principal author of Alcoholics Anonymous, planned to write another book titled After Sobriety, What? Unfortunately, that project was cut short • Between 80 and 95% of
addicts smoke cigarettes, a
Bill’s Question: After sobriety based on freedom from alcohol/drugs comes the issue of addressing tobacco addiction. • Nearly 70% of addicts are
heavy smokers (smoking
satisfying sobriety even if they continue alcoholics/addicts do try to quit tobacco, diseases related to tobacco kill 430,000 term increases health risks more than using either of them alone. (contd.) In addition, replacement therapy
provides nicotine without the toxins found in cancer; drinkers are 6 times more likely; nicotine medications to reduce withdrawal Other research indicates that nicotine
addiction is the number one killer for
commonly prescribed non-nicotine medication people in recovery from other
chemical addictions. Moreover,
clonidine and nortriptlyline, 2 second-line research also indicates that people who
continue to use nicotine while
abstaining from alcohol or other
drugs relapse twice as frequently as
those who quit the nicotine early in
recovery.
seem to work best for young people, and that the patches are ineffective if not dangerous. For all of these reasons, successful Consult with your physician when
considering any of these guidelines.
nicotine too. My clients understand that Changes your body goes through when you
they will not graduate from the addiction quit smoking. (NATAC 1998)
treatment program successfully until Within 20 minutes of last cigarette:
Blood pressure drops to normal
Pulse drops to normal rate
Options for Quitting increase
Body temperature of hands and feet increases
to normal
Within 8 hours:
government’s latest guidelines for health Carbon dioxide level in blood drops to normal
Oxygen level in blood increases to normal
tobacco dependence offer the “greatest Within 24 hours:
single opportunity to staunch the loss of Chance of heart attack decreases
Within 48 hours:
Nerve endings start to regrow
Ability to smell and taste enhances
Within 48 - 72 hours:
kinds of nicotine replacement therapies: Nicotine leaves the body
Within 72 hours:
Bronchial tubes relax, making breathing easier
Lung capacity increases
to consume nicotine in highly controlled Within 2 weeks to 3 months:
Circulation improves
Walking becomes easier
Lung function increases up to 30%

Source: http://www.recoveryhappens.com/Nicotine.pdf