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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    What health risks are associated with smoking addiction?

    Related Topics
    Addiction Smoking
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  • Jennifer Grant

    Psychologist

    New practice opened Feb 2018. Seewebsite www.coffspsychneuro.com.au I'm passionate about working with people from all walks of life to help them create a more vital, … View Profile

    You’ve been very specific in your question, asking about the risks associated with “smoking addiction” rather than just the health risks associated with smoking. The health risks of smoking are well known so I wont repeat them here.
    The health risks of “addiction” – whether it’s to smoking cigarettes, using alcohol or other substances, prescription medication, gambling or sex – depend on the consequences of actions taken to feed the addiction. When we’re busy seeking out or using our preferred substance, we preclude other potentially health promoting behaviours. Time spent smoking is time that could be spent engaged in physical activity, eating nourishingly, breathing clean air, sleeping or meditating, all of which are health promoting behaviours. Money spent on smoking is money that could be spent on housing, healthcare, education, transport, sport or recreational activities. Mental energy spent on seeking out smokes, finding places where smoking is permitted, thinking about smoking is mental energy that could be used listening, learning, growing. The emotional price of addiction is paid in guilt, shame, regret, perhaps anger and frustration. The alternative is health-promoting emotion-enhancing experiences of joy, non-judgment, empathy and compassion.
    Perhaps you could ask yourself: what am I giving up for my addiction? What I am avoiding by being addicted? That might be the answer to your question.

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