QUIT TOOLS - Are You Addicted to Nicotine?

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ARE YOU ADDICTED TO NICOTINE?

Nicotine is a powerful drug! In fact, it has even been compared to cocaine and heroin because it's so addictive; the more nicotine you use, the more you need. Nicotine causes heart rate and blood pressure to increase, and blood vessels begin to constrict. This means less blood circulation for your arms and legs, and an increased chance of heart attack! You also definitely feel withdrawal when the drug wears off. Take a minute to answer the following questions to see if you are addicted.

Are You Addicted to Nicotine? Checklist
If you have ever used tobacco, try asking yourself these 12 questions.
	YES	NO
Have you ever tried to quit, but couldn't?
Do you smoke now because it is really hard to quit?
Have you ever felt like you were addicted to tobacco?
Do you have strong cravings to smoke?
Have you ever felt like you really needed a cigarette?
Is it hard to keep from smoking in places where you are not supposed to smoke, like in school?
Has it been difficult to keep from smoking when you have tried to stop smoking?
Has it been difficult to keep from smoking when you haven't used tobacco in a while?
Have you found it difficult to concentrate because you couldn't smoke?
Have you ever felt irritable because you couldn't smoke?
Do you feel a strong need or urge to smoke?
Have you felt nervous, restless, or anxious because you couldn't smoke?

Adapted from the Hooked on Nicotine Checklist that appears in J DiFranza, N Rigotti, A McNeill, J Ockene, J Savageau, D St. Cyr, and M Coleman, "Initial Symptoms of Nicotine Dependence in Adolescents," Tobacco Control 9(2000):313-319.

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