“As Addictive As Heroin.” So What’s Your Point?
One of the things you often hear when someone is whining about hard it is to quit smoking is, “Nicotine is a drug that is as addictive as heroin.” Okay, but people get hooked on Snickers bars too; shall we compare a “speedball” of milk chocolate, peanuts, caramel and nougat to heroin also?
I’ll swear that this inane comparison had to come from the tobacco empire.
Bycomparing the addictive qualities of nicotine and heroin (or cocaine, if you
prefer) there becomes an implication that withdrawing from nicotine is as
difficult and painful as withdrawing from heroin. And while I will admit to
never having had to say “ta-ta” to a heroin addiction I must surmise, based on
the wealth of information available regarding that process, that comparing the
two withdrawals is akin to comparing a toe-ache with a full-force swing of a
Louisville Slugger (that would be a baseball bat) to the side of the head.
Heroin withdrawal, like nicotine, begins immediately after the drug begins
leaving the body. Withdrawal begins to get “dicey” six to eight hours after the
last dose; major withdrawal symptoms peak in 48-72 hours and subside in about a
week. Here are a few of the unpleasantries the heroin addict can look forward to
during his weaning off the drug:
- tremors
- panic
- chills
- nausea
- muscle and stomach cramps
- insomnia
- diarrhea
- vomiting
- chills
- sweating
- irritability
So it sounds like if I go through heroin withdrawal I will likely spend a week
experiencing a lot of pain while sweating, shivering, puking and pooping all
over myself.
I’ve read many times that one drug is as addictive as the other,
enough that I believe it. And I’ve never heard or read anything that says nicotine withdrawal will be anything like withdrawal from heroin. But I also believe that there are many people out there who are unwilling or unable to separate the realities of the “addict-ability” of the two drugs from the withdrawal symptoms. Admit it, you know there are people that dumb.
You put it on the line. I think we are so afraid to feel uncomfortable that we over-emphasize the the whole thing about the experience of quitting smoking. It really isn’t painful. It’s uncomfortable. And, so are we all such chickens, that we can’t bear the thought of being uncomfortable??!!! You put it strongly, but I agree with just about 100% of what you have to say! Thanks.
Thanks for the support and agreement. I feel strongly that “the myth” and propaganda regarding how hard it is to quit is propagated by those who stand to lose the most if people start quitting en masse.
Hi there
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Let me know if you are interested, thanks
Ric
It is really difficult especially in the first three days after quitting. You’ll get the feeling of depression, anxiety and you will think you are already crazy. Some people even seek psychological treatment during the process of quitting. But through determination, I think everything is possible.
I can’t remember the number of times I tried to give up smoking (and of course, failed dismally) in the past. I knew all the benefits of giving up smoking it didn’t seem to make any difference, I still continued. Over the years I’d tried different methods although I always felt that when it came to the crunch, if the frame of mind wasn’t right then failure was inevitable.
From July 1997 to March 2009, I worked in the Middle East as a Field Service Engineer for communications and radar equipment. One of the radar stations I used to maintain was situated on an island (more like a rock) some 12 miles from the mainland. Access was mainly by boat and of course I dreaded this because once on the jetty, it was a climb of about 80 very steep, uneven steps up to the bottom of the rock. Then another 200 meters up a 30 degree path to the radar station itself at the top. What with the heat as well, I was struggling for breath at the top of the steps and sat it out for a few minutes wishing I knew how to give up smoking. Then came the climb up the path to the top, this was just as bad as the steps.
I thought a great deal during these excursions and was still giving it some thought on one of my leave periods back to England. I really wanted to give up smoking but knowing my history it still only remained a desire.
While on leave back in January of 2003, as with other leaves I paid visits to various arms of my family dotted around different parts of the country. One person I visited was a cousin and she greeted me with, “We all love you and want to see a lot more of you. Will you give up smoking?” Well, with everything else that had been going around in my head I do believe this was the one thing more that I needed to to put my mind in the right frame.
That was 29 January 2003 and after leaving my cousin’s house, on my way home I dropped into the local chemist and bought a full course of patches (10 weeks worth) and it cost me a fortune. That was added incentive to stop smoking.
Since that day, I have never looked back and it’s my belief that will power was the main driving force. The patches – well, I think they probably controlled mood swings I had suffered in the past when trying to stop.
Looking back, what did it for me was everything fell into place at the right time. My desire to stop was very strong and had been for some time, I saw some very sickly stop smoking advertisements on the TV and the final gel was that short request my cousin made. I will forever be in her debt.
Within a few months (or even weeks) I was reaping the benefits from it. A trip out to the rock in the middle of the sea saw me walking from the jetty to the radar station at the top without a stop. I seem to have lost a persistent cough I used to have. I always blamed it onto the last cold I had, just a hangover from that.
If I was asked to advise anyone, I think I tell them to really look for all the reasons you want to stop for and of course, the family theme is a very strong one too.
Hi
Great point you make thanks. Many people quit smoking everyday with little or no side effects, it comes down a lot to what people believe.
for me they do not bring benefits to health and as dangerous
I think you may be right that the tobacco companies fabricated this lie that its as addictive as heroin, In my opinion if you have a darn good reason to quit then at the right time and place it will happen.
Good luck to everyone out there trying to quit smoking, it aint so hard.
Very nice blog by the way.
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Excellent points here. The exaggeration of the difficulty of quitting smoking is a boon to Big Tobacco, because it gives smokers an excuse to not even try to quit. Anti-smoking activists use the myth of the difficulty of quitting as a tool to condemn tobacco companies, or to scare young people away from smoking, and are foolishly oblivious to the notion that they are making quitting smoking more difficult than it is. The sellers of quit-smoking medicines use the myth as an advertising gimmick. People who have quit smoking go on about how difficult it is to quit because it is a way of bragging about how tough and resolute they have been. No human being on this earth can sustain an addiction to nicotine after five days of going without smoking. In most cases, the physical symptoms are less severe than a chest cold. That’s the truth. But if you speak it, there is an army of people who will shout you down.
A very interesting article. I think it is difficult for many people to quit however there are so many ways out there to quit that I’m sure everyone can find something that works for them.
As I’m sure you can tell from my name I’ve been using an electronic cigarette to help me quit, slowly weaning myself off nicotine and I have to admit it’s going very well so far.
Comparing smoking to using heroin is certainly a little strong!
I’m the person who always preached to my friends to stop smoking because of all the health hazards cigarettes present to one’s body but after reading this I feel somewhat bad for nagging them. I guess as some one who has never been addicted to cigarettes I don’t know the hardships people go through to quit. I think it is possible for anyone to quit if you have a little willpower and the drive to get it done.
–I had to post to a blog for class so I’m sorry if I offended anyone or anything like that–
I think it’s great that so many people share their smoking story to help others quit. Nice site. Keep it up. No new posts?
Excellent Informative post !
You have set out in a goal to stop smoking, this of course is a great idea, however are you really prepared for the potential consequences. Of course, your health will enjoy a great benefit from the decreased smoking, but your body is going to have a period of adjustment as it works to handle all of the harsh effects that smoking has caused. Being fully aware of these potential negative side effects will ensure that you are properly prepared to attempt quitting the right way. Just saying that you want to quit is simply not enough, you need to actually make an effort and be prepared.
One of the most common side effects to quitting that you may experience is small spells of dizziness. more info.. ..
I wish best of luck to anyone planning to quit smoking. The above mentioned resource in addition to following the righteous path i.e words of wisdom mentioned in the Book of Mormon is infact an eternal preparation which is the ultimate goal of our lives .
- Jesse
I developed a tool, and ‘useful result for hundreds of smokers who turn to stop. This is a program for Android smartphones. It emits sound waves that block nicotine cravings, and thus reduces the problems of physical dependency.
The resonant waves are very effective, although at low volumes.
This is my small contribution to the people who agree with their desire to quit smoking. Unfortunately you can ‘use only those with an Android.I developed a tool, and ‘useful result for hundreds of smokers who turn to stop. This is a program for Android smartphones. It emits sound waves that block nicotine cravings, and thus reduces the problems of physical dependency.
The resonant waves are very effective, although at low volumes.
This is my small contribution to the people who agree with their desire to quit smoking. Unfortunately you can ‘use only those with an Android.
https://market.android.com/details?id=appinventor.ai_amritfirak.Quit_Smoking_Free
I must admit that at some point I thought the comparison to be an exaggeration. It may be an exaggeration but it is not hurting anybody. Except that it may help, heroin and cocaine addicts feel better about themselves. Nevertheless, I have a feeling that those addicts have issues that are more pressing on their minds like when or where am I getting my next fix.
I have no idea who came up with the comparison and don’t know in what sense the two things are being compared. However, if it makes one smoker stop, think, and helps her/him quit, then in this special case (for me) the end justifies the means.