by Caroline Tigeress

Created on: December 19, 2009   Last Updated: December 21, 2009

     When we look at alcohol, we all know one basic thing.  Alcohol removes inhibition, and to a smoker who is either trying to quit, cut down, or even just monitor their nicotine intake that lack of awareness can be extraordinarily dangerous.

    First, examine the concept of alcohol as its use in common parlance.  You might go out to a club, a bar, a tavern of some sort and toss down a martini, a few beers, a couple of glasses of wine or a shot or two.  Quickly you'll feel the beginnings of that all too familiar buzz.  At this point, still legally in control to drive and make interpretive decisions, but enough to start to feel happy, a cigarette sounds pretty good right now.

    Chemically when alcohol is consumed, it is a central nervous system depressant, which you may find odd because alcohol has been referred to throughout history as, 'liquid courage'.  

    So you're sitting at your bar stool, and based upon the local laws, your neighbor three stools down might light one up.

    You've been good all week, keeping that program up to try to quit smoking, cutting it down by one or two a day to minimize the headaches and nervous reactions that go with any sort of withdrawal symptomology.  Your neighbors cigarette smells good though.

    So now it starts anew.  With alcohol removing your inhibitions, you think, “I've been good.  I deserve a cigarette.”

    You pull the pack up, and before you know it, it's lit.  Within eight seconds the formidable combinations of tar and nicotine his first your lungs and then your brain.  The euphoric effect of the central nervous stimulant that is Nicotine hits your brain.

    So eurphoria plus a lack of inhibitions.  This is a good combination?
    Not if you're trying to quit, or control either one.  All you've done now is reinforce this cycle of addition, but not with one drug but two.

    Let's take this scenario to one hour in the future.  You've probably had another drink of some sort and are starting to feel no pain.  Maybe the bar's getting a little more crowded, and there's that familiar blue haze of secondary smoke in the air.

    Your nostrils inhale it, and before you know it, you're asking your neighbor for a light.  You two chat socially, more drinks flow, and all of a sudden you're asking for change to go by another pack.

    In the morning, to go with your hangover, all of your hard work in easing off tobacco is gone.  Your body begins to crave that first cigarette even before you get out of bed.

    In conclusion, let it be clear that the combination of nicotine and alcohol can only cause one to use more of the other and reenforce the cycle of addictive behavior.  

    Is this behavior something you want in your life?  Only you can make that choice.

Learn more about this author, Caroline Tigeress.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.