Is Smoking Tabacoo Really Addictive? (Essay Sample)

Title: Is Smoking tobacco really addictive?
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Introduction
There are endless questions raised by individuals, groups and healthy organizations concerning cigars, cigarettes, spit, smokeless tobacco, electronic cigarettes, tobacco products, quitting and addiction. Generally, the findings and recommendations given by researchers do not take people towards the same direction. While some people especially manufacturers praise these products, doctors and researchers strongly come out to fight against smoking and consumption of alcohol. It is through these contradictions that has lead to the birth of this paper. The term addictive means using a psychoactive substance repeatedly to an extent that it becomes hard to voluntarily stop using the substance. While many manufacturers seem to overlook the negative side of these drugs, researchers keep on warning people to cease smoking because of its severe effects. Surprisingly, smokers give these ideas and opinions a deaf hear. This paper deeply and bravely tackles the question, "Is smoking tobacco really addictive?" The paper explores the past studies and tries to support its opinion regarding the addictiveness of smoking tobacco. It explains why smoking tobacco is addictive and to some extent why it isn’t based on opinions given by researchers. Towards its end, this piece gives a general overview and conclusion concerning addictiveness of tobacco.
Several reports and published researches concerning tobacco in unit agree that tobacco is addictive. This opinion is grounded on the symptoms that befall tobacco users. Such symptoms include stereotypical usage patterns, endless usage despite its negative effects, relapsing and recurrent cravings are experienced as one tries to stop. Anybody whether a doctor or an ordinary person can easily observe this from friends who smoke. Its addictiveness is clear especially when touching on quitting smoking (Orleans, 1993). Researchers have sadly enough discovered that many people each year try to quit smoking tobacco but they fail. For instance, reports record a 78% of smokers who voluntarily wanted to quit smoking in 2013 in US. Successful quitters were found to be less than 8%. According to Orleans (1993) others had 2-3 attempts to personally and voluntarily cease but ended up continuing using the product.
In addition, addiction power is clearly demonstrated where smokers undergo surgery but end up using the drug again despite restrictions from doctors. In 1995, a research was published indicating 40% of US citizens who underwent surgery for respiratory diseases such as cancer started using tobacco as soon as 6 months after the treatment process (Boyle, 2010). According to Boyle (2010), patients who resumed smoking immediately after surgery were interviewed and their responses recorded. Generally, they said they can’t undertake daily activities without tobacco. It means, smoking tobacco has become a habit and therefore, stopping it is hard. Patients with several negative effects were taken through rehabilitation programs but ended up using tobacco after few months. From this scenario, the addictiveness of tobacco is authentic.
Tobacco contains many chemicals, the main one is nicotine. Research carried out has shown that 1-2mg nicotine is present in one cigarette. When inhaling tobacco smoke, nicotine enters the brain through bloodstream. This is turn causes a ‘kick’ of the adrenal glands to produce epinephrine. This stimulates the smoker’s body thus causing an increment of heart rate, respiration and blood pressure. According to Glantz (1996), "nicotine is the key chemical compound that causes and sustains the powerful addicting effects of commercial tobacco products." Due to nicotine, smokers become addicted and they are forced to use tobacco regularly. It creates anxiety for a continuity smoking. Those who have already been addicted to this drug experience craving, irritability, increased appetite, anxiety and cognitive deficit when they try to stop it (Glantz, 1996). Addictiveness has been found to be accelerated by incorporating substances ammonia compounds (quickens the speed at which nicotine is channeled to the brain) and adding sugar which make it easier and comfortable to use tobacco. In addition, research aimed at testing nicotine dependence was done and found that nicotine is present in tobacco in plenty (Boyle, 2010). This study contradicts what manufacturers say concerning tobacco effects. Tobacco chemical have greatly contributed to its addictiveness.
Genetic influence
Another research that gives value on the issue concerning the addictiveness of tobacco is genetic influence. According to US researchers and authors, those carrying genetic variant have high chances of becoming heavy smokers, dependent on nicotine and their chances of stopping the drug are minimal (Boyle, 2010). Likewise, people who were found with mutations in their genes were found less likely to heavily smoke. This means, smokers might have started smoking as a result of genetic influence. Doctors went ahead to study and investigate non-smokers; they found that they didn’t have mutations on their genes. The evidence is clear, there is influence brought out by genes concerning whether to smoke or not. Again, parents who smoke tobacco have negative effects to their children. Their siblings are more vulnerable to smoking like parents. This paint addiction picture again.
Difficulties faced when applying pharmacological treatments to stop smoking clearly show how tobacco is addictive. Agencies dealing with drug and food administration have recommended nicotine replacement treatments with a purpose of helping smokers cease smoking. According to Glantz (1996), powerful NRT products have been introduced today. They include; nicotine trans-dermal patch, inhalers, lozenges and nasal sprays. These products relieve smokers from withdrawal symptoms such as cravings and headache. Doctors who combine these products with behavioral treatment skills are found to succeed most. Other medications specifically meant to release individuals from smoking habits are varenicline and Bupropion. Despite treatments, research shows not all smokers successfully quit smoking as a result of treatment. It shows how powerful and attractive nicotine is to users. Once an individual decides to smoke, withdrawing becomes so hard.
Opposing opinion
Despite many articles and researches warning people about addictiveness of tobacco, some researches oppose this opinion. They argue that no trial and evidence that show that nicotine is the major cause of dependence and other diseases. Carter (2012) goes ahead and describes what nicotine is likely to do. For him, nicotine acts as reinforcing and dependence-creating potential. These are their opinions;
* That nicotine can be comfortably consumed for many years without any negative effects. They gave an example of many people who have been smoking since they were young till now and no serious negative effects have been noted (Carter, 2012).
* Experts say nicotine is not as harmful as it is being said. There is likelihood of exaggerations concerning its effects (it is 20 times less toxic than it was thought by other experts).
* Clinical research was undertaken whereby 100 individuals were randomly selected. 50 were smokers wh...