Smoking is always a problem, as it is very harmful to health, both for the person who smokes and for his or her environment, as he or she also inhales tobacco smoke. Medical information is abundant and leaves no room for doubt. Smoking is responsible for 95% of lung cancer cases, 90% of bronchitis cases and 30% of all coronary heart disease. Of every 1,000 deaths in Spain, 151 are caused by tobacco consumption, 15 by traffic accidents, 4 by AIDS and less than one by the consumption of illegal drugs. Half of the people who die due to smoking have lost an average of 20 years of life.
We speak of tobacco addiction when a person continues to smoke despite the problems it causes: health problems, physical risk, arguments with others because of tobacco consumption. We would also speak of tobacco addiction when the person who smokes presents discomfort (abstinence syndrome) when he/she tries to quit. And the fact is that “tobacco is addictive” because it contains nicotine, which is a highly addictive substance. On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, which is celebrated on May 31, Dr. Hernández Viadel, specialist in Psychiatry, expert in smoking and member of Top Doctors, explains how tobacco addiction can be treated from Psychiatry.
Why people start smoking, what incites them to continue doing so and what psychological problems result from it
The reasons for starting to smoke may be different in each person, but they all present the same risk of producing a tobacco addiction. These include, among others – the influence of the media – the imitation of models: if we have seen our parents smoke we may value this behavior as normal – peer pressure, such as friends. coworkers
The reasons given for continuing to smoke are also manifold. Some people say they smoke tobacco because it stimulates them and helps them to unwind, others say it is for relaxation or pleasure, or to overcome difficult moments, stress, daily problems. Others admit that they smoke out of addiction and that they simply cannot quit smoking despite trying.
Smoking has not been linked to specific psychiatric or psychological problems. However, smoking is not only a physical addiction, it is also a psychological addiction, which is what makes it so difficult to quit.
In addition, when quitting smoking abruptly or reducing the amount of tobacco, withdrawal symptoms may occur in the form of anxiety, depressed mood, irritability, concentration problems and insomnia.
How to approach smoking from the psychiatric point of view
Currently, and in the public health system, addictions are treated from specific devices (addictive behavior units), where there is usually a specialist in psychiatry and a psychologist, experts in the treatment of addictive behaviors.
The psychiatrist focuses on the assessment and treatment of addiction, particularly pharmacological treatment, and the psychologist on the psychotherapeutic approach.
Importance of multidisciplinary units in the treatment of tobacco addiction
Although the treatment of smoking addiction is not complicated and there are different types of approach, we have considered that a more complete and effective form of treatment is through a multidisciplinary team that allows a comprehensive approach. This treatment includes both the physical health of the patient by the pulmonologist, an approach by the psychiatrist of those psychological aspects that may complicate the evolution of the treatment such as increased anxiety or depressive symptoms, and smoking cessation with the help of the psychologist.
Type of anti-tobacco therapy to be carried out by the patient
The anti-tobacco therapy consists of personalized treatments agreed with the patient’s opinion. It consists of pharmacological and psychological treatments, prescribed separately or in combination, which have been shown to be effective in scientific studies. Although no treatment is effective in 100% of the cases, the opportunity to quit smoking is always a beneficial bet for the health of the person. Quitting smoking is possible and you can do it.