Great American Smoke Out 2009 and beyond

  Great American Smoke Out encourages people to quit the habit

Today is the Great American Smoke Out challenge encouraging tobacco smokers to quit this terrible addiction, or make plans to stop on the 19th of November 2009.

According to the American Cancer Society, "Researchers say that quitting smoking can increase life expectancy – smokers who quit at age 35 gain an average of eight years of life expectancy; those who quit at age 55 gain about five years; and even long term smokers who quit at 65 gain three years."

Not enough? "Research shows that people who stop smoking before age 50 can cut their risk of dying in the next 15 years in half compared with those who continue to smoke. Smokers who quit also reduce their risk of lung cancer – ten years after quitting, the lung cancer death rate is about half that of a continuing smoker’s. Some of the health effects of quitting are almost instant, too – heart rate and blood pressure drop 20 minutes after quitting," says the American Cancer Society.

Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances on the planet. According to the American Heart Association, "nicotine addiction has historically been one of the hardest addictions to break." Just ask any ex-smoker, they will usually tell you that it took multiple attempts before they managed to stop for good. Many just can't overcome the addiction at all.

Of course, nicotine is a drug. In fact, it is an alkaloid chemical in the nightshade family of plants (Solanaceae). Nicotine was used as an insecticde in the past, and continues to be used in an analog form calledimidacloprid. " Imidacloprid is a neonicotinoid, which is a class of neuro-active insecticides modeled after nicotine" says Wikipedia. In France, the chemical is controversial because it is thought to make domesticated honeybees psychotic. 

The main problem with nicotine, and it's addictive qualities, is how it is delivered into our bodies, and the tar that rides along with it. "Tar contains over 4,000 chemicals, 37 of which are known to cause cancer," says the Utah Tobacco and Prevention Program. Tobacco smoke contains many chemicals including: acetone (finger nail polish remover), cadmium (used in batteries), hexamine (barbecue lighter), acetic acid (vinegar), carbon monoxide (car exhaust), hydrogen cyanide (poison), ammonia (toilet cleaner), carbon monoxide (car exhaust), methane (sewer gas), arsenic (poison), DDT/Dieldrin (used to kill bugs), methanol (rocket fluid), butane (lighter fluid), ethanol (alcohol), napthalene (mothballs), nicotine (insecticide), stearic acid (candle wax), and toluene (industrial solvent), to name a few. 

But even with all these poisonous chemicals in tobacco smoke, and the high death rate from cancers, people continue to smoke. Even though it is a stimulant, it calms people down. Smokers will grab a cigarette first when under some type of stress, rather than employ other coping skills. It is a quick fix, and dangerous one at that. The fact that it can take decades to succumb to the deleterious effects of smoking despite the horror stories regarding the addiction, kind of takes the edge off the knife.

Just like any drug addiction, however, you can quit this habit, but your motivation to quit will be directly related to your success. You are not alone in your addiction, and people are around to help you. Don't just quit for today. Quit every day, every hour, minute, or second if that is what it takes. November 19th, 2009 is your date to start quitting, keep it going beyond that.

There is assistance if you want to quit. Call the American Cancer Society Quit For Life® Program operated and managed by Free & Clear® at 1-800-227-2345 for tobacco cessation and coaching services that can help increase your chances of quitting for good.

Further info: American Lung Association, American Cancer Society

*If you or a loved one needs help with any type of drug problem, contact these sites depending on where you live. SEMCA (Wayne County residents), CARE (Macomb County residents), PACE (Oakland County residents), Drug Free Detroit (City of Detroit residents). For those residing outside the State of Michigan, contact SAMHSA for assistance.

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Great American Smoke Out 2009 and beyond by Michael Velardo is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.