Teen Smokers' Patch?When teens get caught smoking they may get in trouble, but they rarely get help to kick the habit. Now many anti-smoking activists are advocating that young puffers get treatment--including the self-adhesive nicotine patch nicotine patch Nicotine transdermal delivery system Substance abuse A device used in smoking cessation Side effects Transient burning, itching–50%, erythema–14%; contact hypersensitivity–2.4%. See Nicotine replacement therapy. . Smokers apply the patch to the upper arm; the patch slowly releases nicotine (the addictive substance in cigarettes) into the outer layer of the skin. "We need to recognize that young people need more than willpower to quit," says Judy Sopenski, director of Boston-based STAT--Stop Teenage Addiction to Tobacco. The patch delivers a near-constant level of nicotine into the body to help smokers cope with nicotine withdrawal Nicotine withdrawal is a term used to describe when a person, who is nicotine dependent, suddenly stops smoking cigarettes or significantly reduces their nicotine intake. This can lead to the person becoming irritable; craving cigarettes and suffering from intense headaches. symptoms, like headaches and irritability irritability /ir·ri·ta·bil·i·ty/ (ir?i-tah-bil´i-te) the quality of being irritable. myotatic irritability the ability of a muscle to contract in response to stretching. . Smokers can now wear the patch for 24 hours Adv. 1. for 24 hours - without stopping; "she worked around the clock" around the clock, round the clock , but must never smoke while "patched"--dangerously increased heartbeat and blood pressure can occur, and even nicotine poisoning Noun 1. nicotine poisoning - toxic condition caused by the ingestion or inhalation of large amounts of nicotine intoxication, poisoning, toxic condition - the physiological state produced by a poison or other toxic substance . Teens can buy nicotine patches only by prescription, but many are reluctant to ask a doctor--they don't want to admit they smoke. Better to quit before it becomes a lifelong addiction. |
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