Question

What will you do if a child of your neighbourhood is addicted to tobacco chewing?

Answer 1

Tobacco consists of a highly addictive stimulant called alkaloid nicotine and harmala alkaloids which are used for smoking purposes in cigars and cigarettes. It can also be consumed by chewing, dipping and snus.

Complete answer:
Tobacco is a widely abused substance in the world which is highly addictive in nature. It causes 6 million deaths per year. The nicotine present in tobacco causes a rush of adrenaline when absorbed in the bloodstream or inhaled via cigarette smoke.

Nicotine is also known to trigger an increase in dopamine which is considered as the happy chemical of the body as it makes the person feel happy. This is also the reason why many people who consume tobacco reach the addiction level.

Because of its easy availability, tobacco addiction is becoming more common. People who are addicted to tobacco cannot stop smoking, experience withdrawal symptoms when they try to quit, and need tobacco products to feel good and relieve stress.

I will suggest different treatment options to my neighbour which includes:

The patch is also called nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). It is a small, bandage-like sticker that is applied on the arm or back which delivers low levels of nicotine to the body and helps gradually wean the body off it.
Nicotine gum is also an NRT which helps people who need the oral fixation of smoking or chewing. It remains in the mouth of the people thus giving them a flavour of nicotine to stop their actual cravings.
Spray or inhaler helps in providing small doses of nicotine ultimately helping in removing the addiction.
Medications are recommended in some cases which include antidepressants which reduces the desire to smoke.
Psychological and behavioral treatments can also be offered which helps in changing the thoughts of addicts about smoking.

Tobacco consumption can be fatal and can cause many diseases like cancer of lung, throat and mouth. It can also cause heart disease, stroke and chronic inflammatory diseases. These things can be made explained to the neighbours and their parents.

Note: Quitting tobacco significantly reduces the risk of death due to these diseases. Even once the disease has been diagnosed, stopping tobacco use can improve treatment efforts.