Is Smoking Really Addictive?

Smokers always have a lot of issues to deal with. These could range from psychological to physical ones. One of these issues that have raged on over the years has to do with the risk of smoking becoming addictive. One must have an idea about the causes of the condition to be able to get a better understanding of it. Some people are able to quit smoking whenever they want to. On the other hand, there are many people out there who are just unable to stay away from smoking for a single day. It is a fact that the nicotine contained in tobacco products, including cigars and cigarettes, is responsible for the addiction to smoking.

Taken in its raw state, it could be extremely dangerous to the point of death. That is why it is taken in various processed forms so that it does not cause as much harm while working its effect on the brain. When the chemical compounds present in the substance go in there, there’s some amount of tolerance that’s been developed for the nicotine as the brain adapts to it. What happens then is that two substances in the brain, the dopamine and the norepinephrine are triggered. These substances are checked by the brain to make sure the right adjustments are made for the purposes of managing their levels. In the event of any excessive release of these chemicals, the brain with its “anti-nicotine” ability makes you feel depressed and sometimes tired. The resulting feeling is going to compel you to take more of the substance and this eventually becomes a habit.

The feelings that are typical for depression and the like are the factors referred to as “triggers.” It would be equally vital to add that many people do experience various forms of these triggers. For instance, while the mere sight of a cigarette pack could trigger the feeling in some people, there are many others who are moved by the scent as well as the sight of the lighter or the ashtray, among others. Before you realize what is going on, it has become very difficult to live without nicotine. This is when the addiction is said to take a toll on you. It is interesting how some people misconstrue addiction. Indeed, they confuse the word with something else. For instance, there are various things including food, games and others that are usually mistakenly considered to be addictive for many people. The fact really is that many such behaviors are mere obsessions and not necessarily addictions.

What you must understand is that addiction is always viewed in bad light. This is because the practices that would be termed addiction are those that are frowned upon by society. The striking description of an addiction has to do with the fact that the behavior could be very destructive to one’s personal health, mental condition and social life. If you are someone who would spend a good amount of time smoking regardless of the risks the habit is posing on your health, you have to think twice. One thing is that not only do such people suffer the consequences that come with it but their families also suffer.

Typically, the addicted smoker finds it difficult to be in a relationship as life with them can sometimes be unbearable. They can develop disorganized lifestyles which obviously could mar their life with others. The other thing worth mentioning is that you are more than likely to get addicted as and when you engage in the practice of smoking for a long period of time. The metabolism of every individual is also likely to account for the cause of the addition. This explains why some people are able to get out of the condition while others suffer greatly to salvage themselves. Some people are actually able to quit permanently within few days after stopping smoking. Most smokers, however, need to invest more time and effort in quitting so that they can get rid of this addictive habit permanently.

It is important to consider the many risks associated with becoming a victim of smoking. Remember that some of the health conditions – such as lung cancer - can be extremely difficult to treat and even completely impossible to cure. The amount of money that might be required to undertake such treatments could also be very high. Be warned!