Ch 15 - 2 Flashcards
Those with drug abuse problems
frequently use tobacco
Tobacco is 4 times as prevalent with those with a mental health diagnosis
Major depression, social phobias and generalized anxiety disorder
70% of people with alcohol use disorder and 97% of heroin users are smokers
Nicotine Addiction
Scientific evidence shows that nicotine is highly addictive despite the comments from the tobacco industry
Works in the same way as cocaine and heroin
- Release of chemical mediators in the brain – epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine
Loss of control
Tolerance and withdrawal
Secondary reinforcers
Act to keep the user dependent on tobacco
Many have habits while doing something else:
Studying
Coffee
Playing sports
Genetic factors may be more important
than social and environmental factors
When people with slow CYP2A6 metabolism use tobacco
the nicotine remains in their blood longer than in people who have the gene for a faster metabolizing form of the enzyme.
Usually causes nausea or dizziness – less likely to try tobacco again
Easier to quit if they do become smokers
DRD2 (associated with dopamine)
appears to be associated with adolescent smoking
By grade 6, students are likely to start experimenting with smoking
80% started before they were 18 years old
Health Canada Youth Smoking Survey
- A parent or sibling uses tobacco
- Peers use tobacco
- Child comes from a blue-collar family
- Child comes from a low-income family
5.Child is headed by single parent
6.Child performs poorly in school
- Child drops out of school
- Child has positive attitudes about tobacco use
Rationalizing the dangers
Persuade themselves they are too intelligent to get hooked
Can quit anytime they want
Evaluating Smoking in the media
Films typically depict the smoker as white, male, successful, well educated and attractive
In reality, smokers tend to have lower incomes and have less education
Carcinogens and poisons
Chemicals such as formaldehyde, benzo(a)-pyrene and urethane care carcinogens
Arsenic and hydrogen cyanide are poisons, nicotine in high enough doses can be fatal
Carbon monoxide (CO) – 400 times higher than is considered safe
Additives
Account for 10% of the weight of a cigarette
Sugars, flavouring agents and humectants
Chemicals increasing the addictiveness of smoking
Results of inhaling tobacco smoke
Most of what is inhaled stays in the lungs
As the cigarette burns down there is less and less filter
There is no such things as a “safe cigarette
Menthol cigarettes
Menthol is a bronchodilator allowing for the nicotine to enter the bloodstream easier
Younger smokers are using menthol cigarettes than older smokers
