Tobacco Use Disorder:The Symptoms and Treatment

For many of us, tobacco use disorder might be news to us. I am also not excluded from the list. So what is tobacco use disorder?

Tobacco uses disorder is a disorder associated with people who are addicted to tobacco and cannot stop using it. It is the misuse of tobacco substances. Cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product, representing over 90% of tobacco/ nicotine use. Nicotine is found in cigarettes, pipes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and snuff.

According to the  Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa, it has been reported that about 29,472 deaths in Nigeria were attributable to smoking. This proves that tobacco use is very dangerous to health and caution needs to be taken to reduce the intake of tobacco substances among the users

What are the symptoms of tobacco use disorder:

• Not being able to quit: This is the biggest sign that a person might have tobacco use disorder. The person won't be able to stop smoking tobacco.

• Not being able to stop the purchase: For a person with tobacco use disorder, they spend a lot of time and effort in activities that aid them in obtaining the tobacco product.

• Suffering from a health problem: A person might have tobacco use disorder if the person starts having health problems and continues to smoke. This is a likely sign of tobacco use disorder.

• Distancing from loved ones:  A person is likely to have tobacco use disorder if he or she stops communicating or meeting up with friends and family because they are being advised to quit using tobacco products.

So how is tobacco use disorder treated?

Firstly, for a person to be diagnosed with tobacco use disorder,  the person must have gone to the hospital and spoken to a doctor. Findings must be made about the level of nicotine dependence which will assist the doctor in providing the treatment suitable for the person.  

The treatment options available for tobacco use disorder are:

Prescription medications: These may include a nasal spray or inhaler which supplies a small dose of nicotine that gives the same feeling a person gets when he/she takes tobacco but without the dangerous chemical in the cigarette. 

Replacement therapy: Non- prescription gums and patches also help to replace nicotine and make treatment more successful.

Counselling: Counselling when combined with medications has been proven to make the treatment more successful.

 Non-nicotine drugs: Drugs such as antidepressants may help reduce nicotine cravings. Please no self- medication. Kindly go and see a doctor to prescribe the right amount for you.

Most people that have tobacco use disorder do not even know that there is a problem and fail to seek professional help. The only thing we can do is to provide support and encouragement.

What are your thoughts on tobacco use disorder?

What other ways do you think we can help people with tobacco use disorder to seek professional help?

Kindly give your comment and let the discussion flow.

REFERENCES

• https://www.mercy.com/health-care-services/behavioral-mental-health/conditions/tobacco-use-disorder

• https://www.claritychi.com/addiction/tobacco-use-disorder/