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Addiction to Drugs/The Effects of Tobacco Use
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Question
Dear Caroline,
First I have to say I love the name Caroline. Now I am 14 years old and need some help with a project that I am working on called The Effects of Tobacco and I was hoping that you could help me out. Now I am aware that tobacco use over a extended period of time can result in cancer but, does smoking have any immediate effect on a persons body the first time they try tobacco? Thank you for your help and time in advance.
Mary
Hi Mary,I'm glad you like my name so thank you for that!
Ok. All I can tell you is the effects smoking a cigarette for the first time had on me. The biology and physiology I know very little about so I'll just give you my version of events.
The first time I smoked a cigarette I smoked 2 one after another and I felt extremely sick ('extremely sick' is putting it mildly). I wanted to puke my guts up-it was physically horrible and my head was spinning and I couldn't move. "Why carry on?" I hear you ask-Its a peer pressure thing,and a stupid one at that.
Nicotine hits the brain-so I am told-7 seconds after you inhale it and people think it actually relaxes them but in fact nicotine is a stimulant which makes the heart beat faster but because it has euphoric effects,it gives the illusion of calm.
Cigarettes also contain Tar which I'm sure you already know and when I was at school we were showed 3 pictures of three lungs-A lung of someone who never smoked,One of someones first cigarette and one of a heavy users. The latter basically destroyed all the lung cleaning fibres,the first was clean,clear and the fibres intact and the one of only having smoked once showed that it had already caused lung damage. Again I don't know the technical terms but I'm sure you get the drift and further study is needed but thats the basics of it.
I don't want to say anymore as I am not sure of the rest of my knowledge and would hate to give you wrong info and screw up your project so I shall leave it at this.
I do hope you get a good grade and definitely get some more research done and if I can be of any more help at all then write in. Take good care,Caroline.
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Answers by Expert:
Caroline West
Expertise
My expertise in this area is in illicit/street drugs as well as some over the counter and prescription drugs/meds. I can answer questions about most illicit drugs and prescription drugs. I can offer advice on Opiate maintenance drugs like Methadone, Subutex and Suboxone,and the process of going through a Detox and/or Rehab. I understand the problems Drug use can cause regarding convictions and debt problems. There is a difference between recreational drug use and drug addiction and can answer questions on both. Relationship advice if you or your partner is using and can offer help there too. Drug addiction is no joke and it can shatter the lives of the family as well as the user so I can also offer help and advice to friends and family. Drug dependency creates a great deal of issues both mentally and physically and left untreated can lead to poor Mental Health, Psychological and Physical harm and worse. Life can become unmanageable in many ways including work and schooling alongside breakdowns in relationships,risk of convictions and a reduction in personal care. I can offer advice and support in all these areas having been in them and now out of them.
Experience
I have had multiple drug addictions in the past that have included Cannabis,Heroin,Crack,Benzo's,Codeine and over the counter tablets as well as prescription medicines and taken near enough everything. It caused a great deal of problems in my family and I also had suffered breakdowns,Hospitalizations,suicide attempts,convictions the lot. I had been in a 7 year drug using relationship which was tough. I've come out the other end now and haven't used illicit drugs for 5 years. I really do understand what it is like for the user and those around them.
Organizations
I am in 4 other categories here at All Experts: Abusive Relationships; Borderline Personality Disorder or BPD and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy or DBT which can simultaneously help those with BPD and with Drug/Alcohol Problems; and Teenage Problems.
I also belong to Care2.com which helps various causes all over the world.
Education/Credentials
I have schooling up to A-Level standard,College Diplomas and what I offer here is valuable 'life experience'.
Past/Present Clients
I have done this voluntary job here at All Experts for about 3 years now.
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