Alpha Life Style Center

FDA to Evaluate RJ Reynolds Advertising Practices

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention says smokeless tobacco, like that found in RJ Reynolds newest smokeless tobacco product, Camel Snus, contains 28 cancer causing agents and is not a safe substitue for smoking cigarettes.

The tobacco company is targeting individuals who resolve to quit smoking in 2011 suggesting that they switch to smokeless tobacco pouches. Matthew Myers, President-Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids says “These ads are trying to take advantage of the fact that around the first of every year many people try to quit smoking altogether. These ads aren’t designed to help people quit, they’re designed to keep people using tobacco.”

The Food & Drug Administration, which regulates tobacco advertising, is reviewing the Reynolds ad campaign which includes ads showing the tobacco-filled white pouches falling from the sky like confetti and one featuring the product ringed into a holiday wreath. 

 Tobacco companies are experiencing declining revenues from cigarette sales as a result of  rising taxes, smoking bans and declining social acceptability, so it is no suprise that they have stepped-up the marketing of their smokeless tobacco products.

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Quit Smoking During the Holidays? A Guide for the Closet Smoker

As a result of the increasing stigma associated with being a smoker today, there appears to be a growing number of “closet” smokers; smokers who hide their habit from others.  This time of year a disproportionate number of closet smokers seek assistance with quitting smoking because, for the closet smoker, the holidays can be a perfect time to quit. Traditional thinking about quitting smoking (or making any major lifestyle change)  typically disqualifies the holidays as a fitting time to quit smoking because of the added stress during the holidays. This is not necessarily the case with the closet smoker.

The month of December is full of social events, commitments, visitors, friends and family. For the closet smoker merely NOT being able to enjoy smoking as they are accustomed to can be the most stressful thing about the holidays.  For a closet smoker,  feelings of anxiety begin to mount just anticipating the challenges of sneaking a cigarette without blowing their cover. Feelings of stress and anxiety are also withdrawal symptoms that result from significantly restricted nicotine use

If you are even considering quitting smoking sometime in the future, I urge you to consider why now is the perfect time.

Quitting smoking during the holidays eliminates the stress associated with hiding smoking from others who disapprove.  Additionally, it can accelerate the withdrawal period because the initial (and most intense) period of withdrawal will occur alongside other holiday distractions.

 Also, consider why you’re a closet smoker. Chances are the reason for hiding your habit is another source of stress, which can be ELIMINATED by quitting smoking.

Common reasons for hiding smoking: A disapproving parent, spouse or relative; Impressionable child; Friend, co-worker or relative of a cancer vicitm/survivor; Guilt or self-conscience re: cost/health/image/

Whatever the reason, closest smokers are carrying a heavy and unhealthy burden; one which is completely gone when they quit smoking once and for all.  Unfortunately, the burden of hiding being a smoker can be so overwhelming that a time of joy and celebration is masked by feelings of restriction, deprivation and resentment.

Quitting smoking is a liberating and empowering experience because it is such a  challenging task. Smokers really need to trust that quitting smoking is one decision that they will never regret.

Unfortunately, closet smokers don’t have a support team to call on when quitting smoking. They can’t post their plans to quit smoking on Facebook (which solicits support from friends) or recruit others for support, making quitting even more challenging. In an effort to help, Alpha Lifestyle Center of Birmingham has a confidential, comprehensive and alternative approach to quitting smoking without pain, needles, drugs or side effect. For more information about the program, visit www.alphalaserinfo.com or call 248-594-1303.

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Re: Michigan Smoking Ban

There seem to be  many questions regarding the Smoking Ban that goes into effect on May 1, 2010 for all Michigan bars/restaurants. The two questions that I have heard most often are 1) Does the Michigan Smoking Ban affect private clubs? and 2) Does the ban apply to patio/outdoor seating areas?

The answer to both is YES. I have heard discussions about petitions requesting amendments to these areas of the law as it is currently written, but who knows!

Currently, the law states that the ban applies ANYWHERE that an establishment has a LICENSE to serve food/beverage. Even if a bar/restaurant WANTED to allow smoking on a patio in lieu of serving food/beverage, they WOULD NOT be allowed to.

Private clubs, Fraternal organizations, Veterans clubs, Country Clubs and other establishments with Club Licenses are subject to the same restrictions as all other licensees.

Thoughts?

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I have too much stress in my life right now…..I can’t quit smoking.

We have been conditioned our entire lives to use cigarettes to cope with stress…..it’s a knee-jerk reaction. What the addicted part of your brain WON’T tell you is how much cigarettes contribute to your stress. You’re likely reading this because you are a smoker, and you don’t like that you smoke. When we deliberately choose to do something that we know we shouldn’t, stress builds inside us on the subconscious level. Also, cigarettes have become very expensive. Spending money on something so harmful contributes to the stress of smoking. Additionally, many smokers are “closet” smokers in one or more aspects i.e. with employers or co-workers, with a mate/spouse, with children, health insurers. The struggle and inconvenience of hiding smoking paired with the fear and consequences of getting caught only compound the stress that this habit causes. The image associated with being a smoker has become increasingly negative. Even if you don’t think you care about this image consider how you felt the last time someone told you, “you know those will kill you,” or when someone hollered at you from a warm car while you were outside alone on 20 below day trying to choke down a smoke-it may have been shame, resentment, or downright anger……either way…..more stress. Let us also not forget to mention the amount of stress that smoking causes to the body physically. We know that smoking contributes to a variety of health conditions; high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attacks, strokes-to name only a few. If you suffer from one or more of these conditions and choose to continue to smoke…yet more stress that you may not even be aware of. 

It’s natural for individuals who make the commitment to quit smoking to be concerned about stressful situations, and consequently, failure-nobody wants to fail. Stressful situations make an individual vulnerable to relapse because the addicted brain knows how to take advantage of a vulnerable situation. A successful smoking cessation program should equip you with the knowledge and tools to combat those vulnerabilities, and the program at Alpha Life Style Center does just that. But I would also like to assure you that by quitting smoking you are actually eliminating a great deal of stress in your life that you are not even aware of. The power of addiction blocks your ability to see this clearly. You simply need to trust the process, trust us to support you, and trust yourself! As hours, days, and weeks of being smoke-free pass, the fog will lift and you will recognize the relief that occurs by quitting. Quitting smoking is an extremely empowering and liberating experience; ask any former smoker. And it’s that empowerment that can help you better cope with and/or manage other sources of stress in your life. Final thought: If you are a smoker who has attempted and/or succeeded with quitting smoking in the past, think back to the disappointment that an unsuccessful attempt or that the relapse caused. Many former smokers will agree that the event/stress that caused the relapse pales in comparison to the stress caused by the relapse.

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Why you shouldn’t be “trying” to quit smoking.

The word “try,” or any variation thereof is TOXIC when related to quitting smoking. If an individual is only “trying” to quit smoking they still have two options….to quit or not to quit. You see, failing falls under trying, but trying at least satisfies the intelligent minds’ need to make an attempt. You see, most smokers feel uncomfortable if they don’t at least “try” to quit smoking because they know they shouldn’t smoke. A weak attempt to quit smoking allows smokers to check “Try to quit smoking” off of their to-do list and to get it out of their minds, at least temporarily.

There is no accountability with “trying.” At Alpha Life Style Center we hear customers tell us everyday how many times they’ve tried to quit, or how many other different methods they’ve tried. Addiction is complex……a simple word can interfere with success. For example, if you tell a spouse or a roommate that you will try to get to the store after work, and then don’t make it-no big deal, right? After all, you didn’t commit to it. But if you promised that you would get to the store, you’re much less likely to neglect that duty. The same goes for quitting smoking. “Trying to quit” and “quitting” are two VERY different things. If you want to be successful with quitting smoking please understand the disadvantage you face if you are only “trying.”

Obviously the complexities of nicotine addiction go beyond simple words. Trying is a natural approach to quitting smoking….and each attempt is still valuable to your long-term success (see blog “I’ve tried quitting 50 times”). But it is my opinion that recognizing and correcting your words/thoughts can significantly increase your success. Don’t just try to quit, DECIDE to quit! And pay attention to others around you…….this discussion will continue to take on more meaning as you notice how often individuals report “trying” to quit smoking.

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