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w w w . s t h e l e n a h o s p i t a l c l e a r l a k e . o r g | 7
If you’ve tried to quit tobacco,
you know it’s tough. Nicotine is
addictive. Like cocaine, heroin and
marijuana, it increases dopamine
in your brain — the same chemical
that’s released naturally when you
do pleasurable things, like eat great
food or engage in a favorite activity.
The effect of dopamine wears off
quickly after smoking, so you get
the urge to light up again.
For people in every stage of the
struggle to overcome a nicotine
addiction, Melody Law, MD, offers
an eight-week smoking cessation
program. It includes:
■
A free, weekly interactive
lecture.
Topics include nicotine
and its health effects, withdrawal
symptoms and triggers, and
how to develop coping skills.
■
Follow-up consultations.
(Check with your insurance
for coverage.)
Addiction?
You Know
We all self-medicate, whether by
eating sweets, drinking coffee or smoking
cigarettes. For someone with addiction,
the substance they use has become
like a best friend who is always there for
them, whether they are sad or happy.
This is another reason people struggle to
stop using — when you move on, you’re
losing a friend. That leaves a hole in your
being, which can lead to relapse. So we
talk about replacement — replacing it
with something healthier.
— Melody Law, MD
“
”
The ABCDEs of addiction
For more information, please visit our website
at
www.sthelenahospitalclearlake.orgor call to speak
with Melody Law, MD, at 707.995.4545.
A.
Inability to consistently abstain from, or stop using, the substance.
B.
Impaired ability to control behavior.
C.
Craving for the substance one uses to ease pain or feel pleasure — or both.
D.
Diminished recognition of how using the substance is affecting one’s behavior
and relationships.
E.
Difficulty identifying, expressing or describing emotions.
According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, people who are addicted to
substances will exhibit, to varying degrees, these five characteristics:
Ready
to Stop
Smoking?
Classes meet Tuesdays
from 4 to 5 p.m.
at the Live Well Center.
The program has
continuous enrollment.
Call 707.995.4545 for
more information.
Melody Law, MD