Nicotine & Tobacco
What it is
Nicotine is a chemical made by several types of plants, including the tobacco plant. While not cancer-causing or excessively harmful on its own, nicotine is very addictive and exposes people to the extremely harmful effects of tobacco dependency.
How it’s used
Tobacco products are typically smoked in cigarettes, cigars, or pipes; smoked in loose form in hookahs (water pipe); chewed; sniffed as dry snuff; or held inside the cheek as wet snuff. In Canada, there’s been a steady decline in smoking rates over the past 50 years.
How it affects us
When inhaled, nicotine is absorbed into the bloodstream and delivered to the brain within 20 seconds—which makes it very addictive. Nicotine may cause you to temporarily feel good or energized. It also causes the release of natural chemicals in your brain that may make you feel more alert and calm. Over time, your body builds a tolerance to some of the effects of nicotine, so you have to continue to smoke or vape to make the effects last. When you go without nicotine for more than a few hours, you may experience withdrawal symptoms. Many people continue to smoke or vape to avoid feeling this way.
The risks
Anyone who uses tobacco or vapes is at risk of developing nicotine dependence. Cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 dangerous chemicals, many of which cause cancer. And the longer a person smokes (or is around smoke), the greater the chance of developing a smoking-related illness like heart attack, stroke, cancer, or respiratory disease. Children and youth are especially at risk for the harmful effects of nicotine, including addiction. Nicotine can affect memory and concentration and is known to alter teen brain development. Exposure to nicotine during the teenage years may cause reduced impulse control and cognitive and behavioural problems. There are health risks linked to other chemicals found in vaping products. People who try to stop smoking or vaping can experience intense feelings of withdrawal, like irritability and difficulties concentrating.
When to seek help
There’s no safe level of tobacco use, so if you’d like to make a change by deciding to quit smoking, there is help available. Attempts to quit work best when you’re highly motivated, and have the support of family, friends, a support group, or your doctor. Stop-smoking aids (the patch, gum, inhaler, lozenge and nasal spray) can lessen the cravings. Certain medications don’t contain nicotine but can help you quit—they’re available by prescription. After a few years, people who quit smoking can generally achieve the same level of risk of cancers and heart disease as people who have never smoked.
Tools
SMART Recovery - Self-Management And Recovery Training
SMART Recovery - Self-Management And Recovery TrainingSelf-Management And Recovery Training (SMART) is a global community of mutual-support groups. At meetings, participants help one another resolve problems with any addiction (to drugs or alcohol or to activities such as gambling or over-eating)...
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Mental Health 101
The Centre for Addiction and Mental HealthKnowledge is power. This series of free online tutorials is a starting point for learning about mental health. You can come away with a greater understanding of the mental health concern you are interested in knowing more about. The tutorials can...
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21 Program(s)
The Gathering Place
The Gathering Place provides a safe, non-clinical, non-stigma space for clients who are stable in the diagnoses to attend on a weekly basis. The activities planned for each week vary, ranging from cooking low-cost, simple meals; what resources are...
Mental Health and Addictions Provincial Intake
Mental Health and Addictions Provincial Intake is the entry point for all requests for service through the provincial toll free number 1-855-922-1122 Monday to Friday and all week-day holidays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. as well as Tuesday and Thursday...
Access Wellness Nova Scotia
Access Wellness is a free single-session supportive counselling service for individuals (18 years and older), couples or families.
Sessions can be held over the phone, online with video, or in-person. People can speak with a qualified professional...
Membertou Health and Wellness Home
The Membertou Wellness Home delivers programs in heart disease/hypertension, smoking cessation, healthy weight, crisis prevention/intervention, mental health, pre-natal, diabetes foot care, addictions services, dental therapy, chronic disease, home...
Eskasoni Mental Health
Eskasoni Mental Health Services (EMHS) provides a wide range of services to the Mi’kmaq people of Eskasoni, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. The Tui'kn Residential School Survivor Team...
Caregivers Nova Scotia
Caregivers Nova Scotia provides free programs, services, information, and advocacy for family and friend caregivers. We are dedicated to providing recognition and practical assistance to friends and family giving care.
Kids Help Phone
Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7, national support service. We offer professional counselling, information and referrals and volunteer-led, text-based support to young...
211
211 is a free, confidential information and referral service that can connect you to thousands of programs and services offered by local community groups, nonprofits and government departments across Nova Scotia, 24/7.
Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services - Mental Health Programs and Services
Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS) is responsible for administering Non-Public Property (NPP) on behalf of the Chief of the Defence Staff and for delivering...
Veterans Affairs Canada Assistance Service
Veterans Affairs provide targeted services and benefits to improve well-being including support and services related to your physical and mental health and wellness.The VAC...
Wellness Program
The Wellness Program is an ongoing, client-focused program that is based on what the client or group of clients want to work on that day. There is no waitlist or referral process...
Health Psychology
Health Psychology offers psychological interventions for those with chronic and acute health conditions. The main focus is on the patient's mental and emotional reaction to an illness or their recovery from an illness.
Stop Smoking Program
Nicotine Addiction Treatment & supportive counseling services are available by trained Nicotine Addiction Treatment Specialists throughout Nova Scotia for individuals who want to stop their tobacco or nicotine use, most commonly, smoking & vaping. ...
School Mental Health (SchoolsPlus)
The school mental health clinicians provide individual and group therapy, mental health and addictions education for school staff and consultation services. Clinicians are on...
Nova Scotia Operational Stress Injury (OSI) Clinic
The Nova Scotia Operational Stress Injury Clinic (NSOSIC) belongs to a national network of OSI Clinics funded by Veterans Affairs Canada. The clinic provides mental health...
Provincial Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line
The Provincial Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line provides crisis intervention for children, youth and adults experiencing a mental health crisis or mental distress.
The...
First Nations Services
Mental Health clinicians work as part of the first nations health care team in several first nations communities. The Mental Health Clinician provides assessment, diagnosis and...
Community Support Service (Adults)
The Community Support Teams for Adults/Community Supports for Adults supports individuals living with persistent mental illness to develop and maintain a safe, satisfying quality...
Adult Community Mental Health and Addictions Services
Community Mental Health and Addictions includes a team of mental health and addictions professionals who provide services on an outpatient basis. The team provides assessment...
Child and Adolescent Services
Child and Adolescent Services/Child Youth and Family/Child and Adolescent Outpatient Clinical Services provide mental health and addiction services to children and youth (under...
Adolescent Outreach Services
Adolescent Outreach Services (AOS) is an expansion of the CaperBase model, which originated in Cape Breton. AOS focuses on providing:
- Brief and Early Intervention
- Screening
- Outreach
- Community Partnerships
The AOS model is set up for youth...
