How is the treatment of Tobacco?

Although it is true that tobacco addiction is a fairly standard form of dependence today, it continues to be a very harmful health problem both in the medium and long term. And it is that beyond the effects that smoking cigarettes has on the body, even the frequent intake of nicotine without going through the lungs means seeing one's mental health deteriorated, since it is still a form of drug addiction due to the way in which it affects the system highly strung.

In this article we will see what the treatment of smoking consists of, based on the idea that all personnel who develop tobacco dependence end up needing professional therapeutic help and that the sooner they start going to therapy, the better.

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Which is smoking?

What is popularly known as smoking is actually nicotine addiction, the most common variant of which consists of the frequent consumption of tobacco cigarettes. It is a disease so widespread that it is considered an epidemic by the World Health Organization, and it is estimated that in Spain around 15% of those over 16 years of age suffer from it.

this addiction generates a chemical addiction process and another psychosocial addiction process. As far as chemical dependency is concerned, nicotine modifies the neuronal interconnections of certain parts of the brain, causing the nervous system to function in an altered manner. if the hours go by and this substance is not consumed again, in addition to increasing tolerance (the person each time needs to smoke more to obtain the same relief effect transient).

Regarding psychosocial addiction, it must be taken into account that smoking becomes a habit integrated into the smoker's lifestyle, and "disengaging" from this Drugs cost as much due to the social pressure of the environments through which they move, as well as the habit of taking out a cigarette and putting it in their mouths at certain times. situations; There are people who even believe that smoking relaxes you, despite the fact that tobacco does not have this effect beyond appeasing the withdrawal syndrome for a few minutes. That makes some people with nicotine addiction feel vulnerable if they can't smoke, they feel like they can't be “themselves”.

Although it is true that at the European level there has been a reduction in the percentage of people addicted to tobacco (the younger generations consume less of this drug), it is still a real public health problem, and smoking treatment is among the most common reasons for consultation in specialized addiction therapy centers. Fortunately, if it is stopped in time by means of a complete therapeutic intervention, this pathology can remit to the point that the person can lead a normal life and not see their years of life reduced life.

• You may be interested in: "Nicotine: what it is, characteristics and how it affects our body"

How is the treatment of smoking?

Therapeutic intervention on smoking rests on two main pillars: psychotherapy and medical support. In this last section, the most common type of intervention is replacement therapy, which consists of substituting cigarettes for other products with lower amounts of nicotine than serve to alleviate the withdrawal syndrome and offer an initial phase towards the disappearance of this habit. The most commonly used are nicotine gum, certain nasal sprays, and nicotine patches, which must be used following the therapist's instructions.

Another of the resources of the treatment of smoking is its medical aspect is the use of certain psychotropic drugs to help cope with the withdrawal syndrome; These are medications, so they should always be taken following the doctor's instructions, due to the harmful potential of their side effects. the varenicline and the bupropion are two of the most used.

On the other hand, psychological therapy is also very relevant in the treatment processes for tobacco addiction; In this case, the objective is not to introduce substances into the body capable of generating certain effects in the neurons of the system. central nervous system, but to help the person self-regulate their behavior patterns and their mental processes to avoid relapses in the tobacco. For example, in the setting of cognitive-behavioral therapy, the patient is helped to question his pessimistic beliefs about his ability to overcome addiction, he is trains in self-motivation techniques, and is helped to identify situations and thoughts that increase the risk of relapse in order to neutralize their influence quickly.

Another important aspect of psychotherapy for tobacco dependence consists of training in relaxation techniques and practices such as Mindfulness, useful to mitigate the stress produced by "the monkey" of the withdrawal syndrome, as well as the availability of therapeutic support through calls or chat messages in situations of emotional crisis or sudden increase in relapse risk.

• Related article: "What is an addiction?"

Looking for therapy for nicotine addiction?

If you want to start a therapy process to overcome smoking, get in touch with our team of professionals.

In APPOINTMENT CLINICS we specialize in intervention in addictive disorders and work offering both outpatient care and residential treatment in a fully equipped center. You will find us in Barcelona.