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Nine Stop-Smoking Strategies
Understand Reality: Why Cigarettes Control You
Ever wonder why you keep smoking even with all the dangerous health risks? Blame nicotine, the main drug in tobacco, for your smoking addiction. Nicotine acts on some of the same brain pathways as cocaine.
When you first start smoking, you might feel a big rush from just one cigarette. But the more cigarettes you smoke over time, the more you need to smoke to get that same feeling. This is called "tolerance," and it is the mechanism behind addiction.
When you first start smoking, you might feel a big rush from just one cigarette. But the more cigarettes you smoke over time, the more you need to smoke to get that same feeling. This is called "tolerance," and it is the mechanism behind addiction.
Related Resources
- Find more strategies for quitting smoking at WebMD.
As a reminder, always consult your doctor for medical advice and treatment before starting any program.
SOURCES: WebMD Medical Reference: "How to Quit Smoking." WebMD Community: "Smoking Cessation: Support Group." WebMD Public Information from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: "You Can Quit Smoking." WebMD Medical Reference: "Understanding Nicotine Withdrawal—Treatment." WebMD Quick Facts for the Patient: "What You Should Know About Smoking—and Quitting."
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