Reformed Drinkers Reluctant To Quit Smoking

Many people who have problems with alcohol are also smokers. These two addictions often go hand in hand. The problem many believe s that quitting both at the same time can be difficult as one crutch often replaces the other. Truthfully this is neither true nor necessary. There are many myths tied into those who are alcoholics and smoke. The fact is that eighty five percent of people in alcohol rehabilitation programs are also smokers. In the general population it is only around twenty one percent. That is an enormous difference. It is better for drinkers to try to lose both habits at once but those who are quitting drinking will use the excuse that if they try to quit smoking too it will guarantee failure of their program to quit drinking. This is not true.

Those smokers who claim that if they quit smoking while they are working so hard to stay sober they will meet with failure forget how closely tied one habit is to the other. The cigarette in their hand can signal the end of a drinker’s resolution to not take another drink. The two actions are way too close and in fact quitting both at the same time can be a big help to each bad habit.

Another excuse heard is that since alcohol was such a threat to their health and wellbeing smoking is no big deal. This too is a myth. People who are heavy drinkers and smokers are more likely to succumb to cigarette related illnesses then alcohol related illnesses. Alcoholics who have conquered their drinking problem are more apt to increase their smoking with the second habit acting as a replacement for the first. Due to this, and some other factors, it is more probable that they will find themselves dealing with heart conditions, or cancers of the lungs, mouth or throat. Therefore it is necessary to convince them of the serious of their smoking habit. This is not always easy to do since the drinking is the habit that more likely gets them into trouble in their lives.

One of the biggest problems for someone who has worked hard to conquer a drinking problem, which is a very difficult thing for some people to do, is the idea of having to break another long time habit. Depending on how difficult it was for them they may fight the thought of quitting smoking because they feel they will not be successful a second time. Feelings of defeatism begin at the mere thought of quitting smoking. There are other reasons that may come up for the drinker to resist giving up cigarettes. They may feel that they have too many close friends and family members who smoke and so it will be too difficult in that kind of environment to be able to quit. Possibly they will decide that what with the effort of having quit drinking they are way too stressed out to try to stop smoking. They can do it, but they support to conquer this habit.

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