Cigarette smoking is estimated to lead to 4.9 million premature deaths per year worldwide. This is predicted to rise to 10 million by 2020. In western countries it kills half of all smokers who fail to stop. The prevailing model for tobacco addiction is that nicotine from cigarettes rewards smoking and punishes abstinence, tapping into a motivational system of operant conditioning that requires no conscious awareness. However, there are also accounts which involve cognitive biases and the effect of nicotine on impulse control. The brain pathways involved have been studied extensively, but the role of different nicotine receptor subtypes and other neurotransmitter systems is still subject to debate. In western countries, cigarette smoking as an adult has a heritability of 30-50% and candidate genes have been identified that may contribute in part to addiction susceptibility. Many socio-cultural correlates of cigarette smoking have been established, but a comprehensive model that accounts for these and links them with the psychobiological aspects of nicotine addiction has not been forthcoming. Structured behavioural support programmes aid cessation attempts, as do a number of pharmacotherapies, most notably nicotine replacement treatments and bupropion, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. This book deals with the problems involved in understanding and treating nicotine and tobacco addiction. Topics covered include the nature of the worldwide health problem posed by cigarette smoking, the psychodynamics of cigarette addiction, and the basic pharmacology and biochemistry of nicotine and its effect on the brain. Further chapters analyse the genetic basis of susceptibility to nicotine addiction. Finally, the contributors address approaches to therapy. A continuing theme in the discussions throughout the book is how best to treat nicotine addiction, given that many smokers would like to stop smoking but are unable to do so because of their addiction. This book will be of great value to all psychologists and psychiatrists working on addiction, specifically to nicotine but also to other compounds and behaviours. It will also be of interest to neuroscientists and pharmacologists working on nicotine receptors and the brain pathways involved in dependence, as well as to biochemists, molecular biologist and to public health officials.

The decision to quit smoking is far from a casual one. Quitting smoking involves your complete commitment; it must become your number-one priority. Mustering all the support you can get, you need to decide to turn up the flame on your survival instincts, your belief in a healthy future, and your will power and faith that you can and will quit. The sooner you stop smoking, the better your chances of avoiding some of the unwelcome consequences of smoking. You body and brain begin to recover almost immediately. Cigarette cravings aside, your body wants to stop smoking, and the moment you cut loose the smokes, your respiratory system begins to clear itself out. Here are just a few of the benefits you can reap from kicking the habit: A longer life with a lower risk of cancer and other deadly diseases No more sore throats, congested lungs, and persistent cough The ability to exercise and "get back into shape" Kissable breath and clothes that don't smell like you just came home from a bar Being able to really taste good food Pleasing your family and friends and no more being the outcast Like all smokers, you've probably tried to quit a half dozen times, only to relapse. Perhaps you'd given up all hope of being able to quit, but now you're getting pressure from others, such as family members, to end your smoking career completely. But how do you take those first steps? And how do you follow through with your commitment to quit smoking? Quitting Smoking For Dummies can help. Quitting Smoking For Dummies takes a total approach to help you quit smoking – short of yanking the cigarettes from your hands. It gives you the cold, hard truth about why you're addicted and how smoking harms your body – and it helps you develop a plan for finally quitting. Here's just a sampling of the topics you'll find covered: Understanding the various forms of tobacco – and their effects Figuring out why you're addicted Analyzing the health risks of smoking Developing a strategy to quit smoking Exploring nicotine replacement therapies Staying clean: Avoiding the relapse Getting help from support groups and programs Special considerations for pregnancy and teen smoking So, the question to ask yourself is, "Why wait to quit?" You're going to have to eventually; why not start now? With Quitting Smoking For Dummies, you can start your recovery today, and look forward to a long and healthy life.

Learn how ethnic factors affect tobacco use The addiction to smoking is remarkably resistant to intervention, bringing with it a multitude of health issues among users that can at times co-occur with psychiatric disorders. Ethnicity is increasingly recognized as often playing an important role in the prevalence of tobacco use. Tobacco Use and Ethnicity explores the various factors that impact tobacco use among ethnic groups and provides practical, culturally competent approaches to treatment. Chapters consider multiple variables that lead to use among certain groups, such as Asian American and Pacific Island youth, American Indian and Alaskan Native youth, and low-income African Americans. Tobacco Use and Ethnicity is a unique source that comprehensively reveals the intersection between nicotine and culture, constructing culturally informed and culturally competent approaches to tobacco prevention and cessation treatment. This volume is based on first-hand participant observation and addresses risk and protective factors in a wide variety of populations served by public health workers and educators. The book is extensively referenced and includes figures and tables to clearly present research. Topics discussed in Tobacco Use and Ethnicity include: target marketing of a tobacco product to African-American youth how ethnicity and youth culture impact potential smokers the role of parental relationships the impact of peer and parental smoking status, employment, gender, and income in British Columbia the risk factor of acculturative stress on Asian American and Pacific Island youth protective factors of American Indian and Alaskan Native youth common factors associated between poverty and African American tobacco use and more! Tobacco Use and Ethnicity is an invaluable resource for public health professionals, addictions counselors, public health educators, and students.

Examines the scientific evidence that cigarettes and other forms of tobacco are addicting. Concludes that processes that determine tobacco addiction are similar to those that determine addiction to other drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Tables and figures. Bibliography. Index.

Tobacco is reported to be the second major cause of death in the world and there is ever-increasing interest in the costs of smoking, especially in the light of evidence of the health effects of second-hand smoke. This book brings together the findings of economists on the effectiveness of price and non-price policy initiatives to combat smoking and draws conclusions regarding the efficacy of the various policy measures. The authors evaluate the relative effectiveness of price-based smoking control policies (i.e. tax) in relation to non-price strategies (including advertising restrictions, sales restrictions, territorial restrictions and health warnings). They review evidence not only from the US but also from around the world, drawing important conclusions for developing countries where smoking is on the rise. The book will be essential reading for policy makers, health practitioners and researchers in health economics.