Smoking and ADHD | ADHD Information

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Reisa said...
You are missing an option:  I smoke, I hate it, but I am addicted.

I Totally agree!!!!... Also, what does smoking have to do with ADD/HD? It's a fact that ADD/HD people use and abuse substances more often,especially a problem with teens.

Yup agree with Reisa on that one.  Totally addicted here, ashamed of it, and wish I could quit.  No success, can't make it through 1 day without a smoke.  Its so socially unacceptable, that I get nagged at home by hubbie and kids.  Guilt guilt guilt.  Always think-bad role model to kids.  Then the smoke wins out every time.

.IMac38943.8244444444This poll was started because of a conversation that began in another section of the forum, where a man who is treating kids with ADHD won't accept the kids for treatment, if the kids' parents smoke, even if the kids' parents only smoke away from the kids, thus not allowing the kids to be effected by second-hand smoke.  He has said that his treatment does not work for smokers' kids, but he doesn't know why.  IMac made the point that many ADHDers smoke, so by eliminating the children of smokers, this researcher may be eliminating children who have a genetic link to ADHD, and this could be why the researcher's treatment does not work for these kids.  I thought that was a really interesting point, and I wondered if it was true that ADHDers have a tendency to be smokers.  So, the poll!Hey, adult ADHDers.  This subject came up in another section of the forum, and I was wondering...Is smoking common among adult ADHDers or not?

Nicotine is a stimulant, wouldn't surprise me to find a bunch of self medication with it. 

For me at least, it is also a socially acceptable way to get a break from interacting or a noisy environment.  Nevermind that smoking is not socially acceptable, it is more acceptable than, "Yall are getting on my nerves, I am going outside."

.IMac38943.8238657407.IMac38943.8236111111You are missing an option:  I smoke, I hate it, but I am addicted.Curious, what does ADHD have anything to do with smoking? It used to be that more people smoked than those who didn't. It was the sign of the times. As we're being more educated on it's side effects, more people are resisting and/or quitting. Now, more people are non-smokers than those who smoke. I don't think it has anything to do with ADHD. IMO

Reisa,

That's true!

Resistance,

First, love your signature!  Next, I worked as a waitress for years, and all the waitresses, including myself, wanted to wait on the people in the smoking section of the restaurant because they were more social and relaxed.  Don't know why this was/is. 

I get ONE smoke break a day and it is actually almost the only time I interact with others at work. I do sometimes work with one other person but mostly alone.

I love it, I'm sure they all see me as some sort of hyped-up yappy character, but wtf.

i smoke   - I remember when I started.  I had just been diagnosed with ADHD.  I was in college at the library - at the time I was pledging a sorority and had to carry cigs around for all the older sisters...I had one, and noticed that it dramatically enhanced the Dexedrine I was then taking. 

Now I'm taking Adderall.  I still smoke.  I inspect my face daily for smoking related aging.  It's actually driving me crazy lately.

Isn't life a trip?

I had my last cigarette six months ag. I smoked since I was fifteen, 30 a day. I never actually wanted to quit, well I did but I didnt, all you smokers understand what I mean.

My friend gave me a book called Alan Carrs EASYWAY to stop smoking. She bet me the book would stop me smoking without any withdrawl symptoms. You keep smoking the whole way through the book.

Well as much as I hate to admit it, it worked and it was REALLY easy.

If you want to stop, go buy the book.

By the way, I do think smoking was related to my ADHD and still could be if I ever slipped up and forgot I dont smoke anymore

Glen I think that's rediculous. As you've said any smoker now days is treated like a leeper. I never smoked around kids either, especially with my daughter having asthma. But I was very naughty and smoked while I was pregnant.

I like not having people glaring at me in public and I like that I dont sit and work myself into an axiety attack that I may well be killing myself, but every so often I'd love to sit and have one more cigarette.

I smoke - about 3/4 pack a day (sometimes more or less).  Have for about 20 years now.  Never around kids or adults who dislike smoking.  But I'm a pariah in society for it and that's the only real problem for me honestly.

Here's a tidbit for the non-smokers and I'm sure you'll love it.  Here in southern Alberta Canada - about an hour from me is a town called Lethbridge.  They just made legislation that makes it illegal to smoke anywhere in the city limits outside your home. That's even on the street or in your cars people.  I find this Draconian in reach - how about you?

 

[QUOTE=INaBOX]Curious, what does ADHD have anything to do with smoking? It used to be that more people smoked than those who didn't. It was the sign of the times. As we're being more educated on it's side effects, more people are resisting and/or quitting. Now, more people are non-smokers than those who smoke. I don't think it has anything to do with ADHD. IMO[/QUOTE]

Ah, but it does. At least according to some references I just read related to brain functioning. It said that people w/ AD(H)D are deficient in the neurotransmitter Dopamine and that nicotine is one of the chemicals that either increases Dopamine production within the nerve cells that produce it or perhaps substitute in Dopamine receptors.

I'm working on my comprehensive exam now and think I saw info on this in two sources. The only one I can find now is on pages 67 and 69 of "Mapping the Mind" by Rita Carter. Pretty sure I saw this same info in another book, too. I'll post the reference if I run across it.

I tried smoking a few times.  Once as a teenager and once in my early 20's.  I didn't like the thought of smoke going directly into my lungs and coating them with tar.

My parents never smoked and I think that had a great influence on me not wanting to smoke.  They talked to me about  how it can hurt you over time.  I guess they got through to me that time and I'm really glad they did.