Who is this guy? Nick Gonzales, Mexican/Apache, adopted Oglala Lakota & Tlingit Sha Nah Keh - 'The Keeper 27 years of recovery - Addict/Alcoholic USMC - Viet Nam Veteran 23 years nicotine free (I use tobacco in a ceremonial way)
What s going to happen in this workshop? Tell you my story Offer Tobacco Education Information But first, please introduce yourself & where you re from
Recovery and Tobacco Use What are some question you want answered?
My last relapse Entering treatment The alcohol and drug presentation After the dust settled Today life is good
Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death in Alaska, causing nearly 550 deaths each year* 75% of Alaska's adult smokers want to quit smoking* 24% of all Alaska adults use tobacco* 41% of Alaska Native adults use tobacco** Tobacco use prevalence data from 2010 BRFSS
Smoking and YOU Smoking is the single largest preventable cause of premature death and disability in the United States. Nicotine addiction is the "most widespread example of drug dependence in our country," according to the U.S. Public Health Service. Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death in Alaska, causing nearly 600 deaths each year. Approximately one-fifth (1/5) of all deaths in Alaska are caused by tobacco use Tobacco use causes more deaths each year in Alaska than: Suicide, Car Crashes, Chronic Live Disease and Cirrhosis, Murder, and HIV/AIDS COMBINED!
Secondhand Smoke Exposure There is no risk-free level of secondhand smoke exposure. Tobacco smoke contains more than 7000 chemicals & at least 69 that cause cancer. For every 8 smokers who die from smoking, 1 non-smoker dies from exposure to secondhand smoke. Approximately 9,560 Alaska children are exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes each year.
Imagine you are taking a slug of whiskey. A puff of a cigarette. A toke of marijuana. A snort of cocaine. A shot of heroin. Put aside whether these drugs are legal or illegal. Concentrate, for now, on the chemistry. The moment you take that slug, that puff, that toke, that snort, that shot, trillions of potent molecules surge through your bloodstream and into your brain. Once there, they set off a cascade of chemical and electrical events, a kind of neurological chain reaction that ricochet around the skull and rearranges the interior reality of the mind. Time Magazine - May 5, 1997
A definition of Addiction: Psychologically (of the mind) or physiologically (of the body) dependent on a drug When a door is open to one substance it also keeps the door open to other substances.
Understanding addiction -What is this guy talking about here? Smoking/chewing is the behavior Tobacco is the substance Nicotine is the drug
Nicotine, the Drug Nicotine is the drug in tobacco that keeps you addicted. It doesn t matter whether you smoke cigarettes, pipes, cigars, or use chew, snus, orbs, packets, or strips; you are still ingesting nicotine. Nicotine is what keeps you hooked to the substance. The substance you use (tobacco) is usually associated with other substances (your drug of choice).
Substance Abuse Treatment and Nicotine Addiction Continuing to use tobacco products while attempting to recover from alcohol & drugs means that you are still involved with active addiction. Every time you use tobacco the addiction cycle begins all over again.
Learning to think in terms of addiction Honestly realizing my addiction includes Nicotine too. As a person learning about addiction & recovery you begin to understand how important it is to be honest with yourself. Saying things like: I m going out to smoke or just have a cigarette, covers up the fact that the real reason for going out is: I need to go dose up or use Why do I use tobacco? Because it keeps the nicotine levels in your body at a comfortable level. No matter what you tell yourself, this is the only reason you smoke, dip, or chew.
An addiction is an Addiction is an ADDICTION Your best chance of quitting tobacco, nicotine addiction, is while you are in treatment Chance of recovery is improved by 25% By using tobacco you are engaging in nicotine addiction You will experience withdrawal symptoms when you quit tobacco Withdrawal symptoms can be lessened by utilizing nicotine replacement treatment These are free to you thru the Alaska Tobacco Quit Line 1-800- QUIT NOW (784-8669)
An addiction is an Addiction is an ADDICTION If you're in recovery, congratulations! It is important for you to remember your nicotine addiction as well. And if you begin to use tobacco again after having left treatment it is important to realize that you are already in relapse and more likely to use other substances again. Call the Alaska Tobacco Quit Line and let your aftercare counselor know.
Any Questions or Comments?
Feel free to contact me Nick Gonzales Akeela Director of Prevention Services ngonzales@akeela.org 907-565-1228
Thank you! AND, I wish you well in your recovery. Nicotine Addiction Never Quit Quitting