Question

identify and explain the history of tobacco; the long-term and short-term effects of nicotine; adverse health effects of tobacco use; and identify treatment strategies for people who want to stop smoking.

Answer 1

Tobacco use disorder is among the most prevalent, deadly and costly of substance dependencies. Many recent researches shows that there are many common factors between tobacco dependence and other substance abuse disorders. According to WHO, the rate of smokers worldwide is 1 Billion using 6 Trillion cigarettes per year. Mortality rate due to tobacco is 3 million persons every year.

Nicotine is the Psychoactive component of tobacco and it affects our brain in the form of Agonist at the nicotinic subtype of acetylcholine receptors. It is considered as the highly toxic alkaloid and symptoms include nausea, vomiting, salivation,pallor,weakness and abdominal pain. Also, causes diarrhea,dizziness,headache,increased blood pressure. Psychological effects are inability to concentrate,confusion and sensory disturbances and it also decreases the amount of REM(rapid eye movement) in an individual.

Death is the primary adverse effect of tobacco. Approximately, 400,000 early deaths every year in the united states is reported.Causes of death are Chronic Bronchitis, emphysema, Bronchogenic cancer, fatal myocardial infarction, lung cancer, cerebro vascular and cardio vascular disease.

Strategies to help an individual to quit smoking are as follows:

1. Self Quit (Taking an initiative to prevent oneself for smoking)
2. Self help books (taking help from the literature)
3. Physician advise (clinician or psychiatric professional help)
4. Over the counter patch or Gum (Nicotine lozenges, etc)
5. Medication plus advise (the most effective treatment is taking medicine and clinician advise)
6. Behaviour therapy (skill training, relapse prevention)
7. Medication plus Group therapy (taking medicines and volunteering in interacting with other patients).