Why is it So Hard to Stop Smoking?

When major tobacco companies managed to work with government agencies to get cigarettes included in World War I military rations, the number of smoking related illnesses and death started to rise. The U.S. Surgeon General has repeatedly broadcast the fact that smoking is harmful to one's health, yet as many as 10% of the world's population dies from smoking annually. The fact that many educated individuals who are aware of the health risks associated with smoking still continue to smoke indicates that quitting smoking is extremely difficult, even for those who wish to do so. There are several reasons why this is true.

Addiction

• Perhaps the most significant reason why it is difficult to stop smoking is the fact that tobacco products such as cigarettes contain nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive substance, which means that the body will crave more of the substance and experience symptoms of withdrawal if it does not receive it. Specifically, the nicotine contained in cigarettes is absorbed into the bloodstream and locks into dopamine receptors in the brain. This creates a feeling of contentedness in the smoker, because dopamine is a chemical that makes people feel better emotionally and physically.

Habit

• Smoking, in addition to being physically addictive, is a physical habit. Smokers get used to having a cigarette in their hand or between their lips. They can have trouble quitting because removing the physical sensation of smoking feels odd or even uncomfortable.

Senses

• Memories in the brain are related to the five senses. When an individual smells a particular smell (e.g., cigarette smoke), his brain may react in such a way that pleasure is recalled, such as if the individual associates successful social interactions with having a cigarette at a party. A person thus can find it difficult to quit smoking because of what he associates with the habit.

Pressure

• Although many people know of the physical dangers related to smoking, individuals still can experience social pressure to smoke. For instance, if an individual wants to quit smoking but is in an environment where all of his friends are smoking, he may feel compelled to have a cigarette simply because everyone else is having one.

Withdrawal

• The nicotine in cigarettes is an addictive substance. Smokers who try to quit smoking thus often experience symptoms of withdrawal that can make it hard not to light up again. These symptoms can include shaking, dizziness and irritability. For some individuals, the symptoms of withdrawal are too difficult to overcome.