08 Dec Addiction Unveiled: Comparing Tobacco and Alcohol Cravings
Tobacco vs Alcohol Addiction – the most prevalent issue in today’s world affecting society and individuals on a daily basis. It’s very common to struggle with tobacco or alcohol addiction.
Although it’s life-threatening to suffer from addiction a lot of people don’t understand the severity and grave consequences of smoking and alcohol.
It causes negative influence on a lot of aspects in your life such as financial and social life. Do you smoke one packet a day? Do you need alcohol to open your eyes in the morning?
Are you unable to quit your addiction even when you want to? If yes, then visit a neuropsychiatrist in Patna, Dr. Vivek Pratap Singh.
Which is More Harmful Tobacco or Cigarettes?
Tobacco is the substance that stems from nicotine found in products with tobacco like cigarettes.
It stimulates dopamine release in the brain that results in switching on the reward system causing the release of feelings of pleasure that make an individual crave it.
This is the main reason why one gets addicted to tobacco. However, both of them are equally harmful. Although, smoking tobacco can do more damage than cigarettes.
Tobacco addiction leads to
- Cardiac problems
- Respiratory complications
These are the two main systems that are affected when soeoene is addicted to smoking. It causes an individual prone to lung infections. Smoking leads to the lungs being filled with tar which damages the lungs.
People who smoke for a long time develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that can progress to individuals severe breathing problems and fatal complications.
Another common disease that is caused by cigarette smoking is lung tumor. It causes bladder tumor, renal tumor or melanoma.
Physiologically, it gives rise to
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Tremors
- Mental health problems
- Trouble concentrating
Is tobacco and alcohol injurious to health?
Smoking and drinking alcohol have their own set of injurious effects that are sometimes irreversible and inevitable.
The main difference between Tobacco vs Alcohol Addiction is the latter is not a psychoactive substance which means it does not affect mood, perception, or judgment when consumed.
While alcohol intoxication can change an individual’s mood making them lose consciousness. Alcohol addiction is defined as consuming alcohol more than the standard limits and being unable to stop.
It has a strong influence on the brain by activating the pleasure system releasing dopamine that decreases negative feelings.
This increases craving in individuals because a lot of people see it as a temporary fix to their permanent problems.
Gradually, drinking alcohol increases the tolerance level which creates dependence. The effects of drinking alcohol on students
- Cardiovascular function
- Liver inflammation
- Renal problems
Once an individual gets addicted to alcohol, they start drinking to survive and that makes things worse. A lot of people drink to avoid facing their issues.
They think alcohol can help with their anxiety and sadness. Alcohol takes away the negative feelings for a while, but once the effect wears off these feelings come back in full force.
The individual goes through physical symptoms like
- Increased heart rate
- Palpitations
- Anxiety
- Depressive episode
- Increased breathing or hyperventilation
- Impaired judgment
- Confusion
Alcohol dependence can be injurious to health in more than one way. People tend to drive even when they had too much to drink resulting in grievous road traffic accidents.
So many times, the emergency departments have seen people come in with heinous injuries because they were drinking and driving.
What kills more alcohol or tobacco?
Tobacco and alcohol both have considerable systemic health effects. There is no comparison as to which substance can kill more humans.
They both have their own set of side effects that can have fatal outcomes. The number of carcinogens present in a cigarette is responsible for deadly conditions like
- Lung cancer
- Asthma, or bronchitis
- Diabetes
- Colon, rectum tumor
- Tuberculosis
- Erectile dysfunction
- Increased risk of stroke
The point is smoking is the leading cause of death that can be prevented if people stop smoking or at least reduce the daily number of cigarettes.
Alcohol addiction can cause liver inflammation leading to
- Liver cirrhosis
- Ascites
- Hepatitis
- Fatty liver disease
These conditions can be prevented if an individual corrects the alcohol consumption. Alcohol addiction has led to disturbance in brain chemistry to the level that people can develop delusions and hallucinations.
It affects mental health quite severely with grave complications on hand.
How is tobacco worse than alcohol?
Among alcohol and tobacco, the argument will be in favor of tobacco being the worst substance in human history.
Red wine in the alcohol section has at least some health benefits associated with its moderate consumption.
On the other hand, tobacco smoking can be considered as the worst substance to exist looking at its harmful effects.
Alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs can have dangerous effects on the body when one becomes dependent on it.
Because quitting these habits can take a lot of human effort and will to deal with the withdrawal effects.
So, to conclude it will be not to indulge in these substances however drinking alcohol in moderation cannot do much harm.
Addiction recovery
The addiction treatment focuses on making individuals strong enough to survive without the need for other substances.
Tobacco addiction can be treated by nicotine replacement therapy and counseling.
There are various options for people addicted to cigarettes that they can use to taper down their use and eventually reach a level where they don’t need it anymore. For example,
Nicotine patches are used depending on the body size and smoking habits it’s decided how much dose will be needed. It is applied on a clean area with less hair such as below the neck or above the waist.
Nicotine gums are a fast-acting replacement that can be bought without a prescription.
Nicotine nasal spray delivers nicotine rapidly through the nose.
The other option is psychotherapy counseling which can help express the feelings of an individual for how they are feeling.
There can be some emotional turmoil going on in their head if they have to resort to this step. A therapist helps you navigate through your feelings and lets you work on a solution.
The alcohol and smoking habits and their impact on families and society are also something people deal with daily basis.
The family goes through a mix of emotions caring and dealing with the individual’s mood swings. It’s important they seek family therapy.
For alcohol addiction treatment near me, there is an de addiction center in Patna, Dr. Vivek Pratap Singh.
A lot of measures have been taken regarding the global prevention and control of tobacco and alcohol use. Various programs and therapy groups are dealing with this to curb the potential spread of substance abusers.
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