Why is quitting “cold-turkey” so difficult?
In the same report from the American Lung Association, it’s reported that many people need help quitting because going “cold turkey” doesn’t work. Carl R. Sullivan, M.D., Director of Addictions Programs at the WVU School of Medicine, Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry, and Professor and Vice-Chairman and Residency Training Director, explains: Nicotine is a powerfully reinforcing drug and once the brain becomes dependent on nicotine’s presence it is extremely difficult to stop using. Nicotine causes a surge of dopamine…..the brain’s reward, “feel-good” chemical to be released with every puff. And each puff changes the brain very slightly making it likely that another hit of nicotine will occur. Nicotine addiction is not a “Habit”, rather it is a powerful, insidious brain disease and just stopping is not an option for many, many people. The addiction demands to be fed. Most people who do quit have made many attempts at stopping before becoming successful. For every person
