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Are all addictions the same or are they different?
All addictions are characterized by the same criteria:
- A compulsion to continue or repeat the behaviour
- Loss of control
- Continued involvement (that is use of a substance or pursuit of the event) in spite of adverse consequences
Patterns of addictions may vary but the underlying process remains the same.
Alcohol
Why should I cut down on my drinking?
- Alcohol-related diseases reduce a person’s life span, on average by 6 to 29 years.
- Hangovers? There is a greater risk of stroke or heart attack, with as little as one hangover a month
- Alcohol is second in importance only to smoking as a proved cause of cancer.
- People who drink a lot (6 beer) at one sitting face a much higher risk of hardening of the arteries.
- Long term alcohol consumption significantly affects a senior’s ability to walk. It can lead to muscle disease and peripheral neuropathy.
- Memory becomes impaired the more you drink, both in the short term and long term.
- Drinking alcohol makes fat burn more slowly. Regular consumption increases the likelihood of gaining weight.
Who is more likely to have a drinking problem, men or women?
Men are more likely than women to have drinking problems, especially concerning finances, work or school, home life and marriage, and physical health
What is the financial cost of alcohol abuse nationally?
In 1992, the costs of alcohol abuse to Canadian society was $7.5billion, or $265 per capita.
Smoking
What are the harmful effects of Smoking?
- Smoking is a major cause of chronic bronchitis & emphysema
- Smokers get colds more often
- Smokers are more likely to have heart attacks & strokes
- Smoking is the leading killer of women in Canada
- Women who smoke while they are pregnant put the health of their baby at risk
- Breathing "second-hand" smoke on a regular basis increases the chance of heart disease, lung cancer, bronchitis, and other chronic breathing problems in non-smokers
- Children who live with smokers suffer twice as much from respiratory illnesses as children raised in non-smoking homes
Will I automatically gain weight when I quit smoking?
Probably. Usually people gain five to ten pounds when they quit smoking
Why do some people gain weight?
Smoking speeds up some of the body’s normal processes. For example, smokers tend to burn calories faster than non smokers. This may partly explain why smokers weight less than non smokers even though smokers do not necessarily eat less.
If I quit smoking and gain weight, have I traded one health problem for another?
No. Weight gain is a much smaller health hazard than smoking. You would have to gain 125 pounds to equal the dangers of a pack a day addiction.
Should I worry about gaining weight while trying to quit?
No. For most people, quitting smoking takes serious effort and concentration. Worrying about weight gain can split your attention and make it more difficult. It may be easier to focus on one thing at a time.
While you are quitting smoking, remember:
- you are achieving a very important goal, even if you do gain weight. It’s easier to work on one thing at a time
- there are physical reasons why you gain weight. It is not just a matter of willpower
- weight gain does not have to be permanent
Is Nicotine the only harmful substance in tobacco?
NO - Tobacco smoke is made up of thousands of substances, many of which are known to be harmful. The most harmful substances include:
- Tar - the name given to smoke particles, which is a known cancer-causing agent. It contributes to cancer of the mouth, throat, lungs, and,
- CO - Carbon monoxide, which is a poisonous gas produced in burning tobacco. Carbon monoxide stays in your blood for several hours and robs the body of oxygen. With less oxygen available, the heart must work harder.
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