Symptom management of Nicotine Craving

It is well documented through out the literature that:

„« Smoking has been labelled the most important preventable cause of death and disease.

„« Cigarette smoking causes lung, oral, and other cancers, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, peptic ulcers, gastrointestinal disorders, maternal/ foetal complications, and other disorders.

„« Smoking cessation dramatically reduces the risk of heart disease and cancer and prevents continuation of the decline in lung function in those with chronic obstructive lung disease

(NSW Report of Chief Health Officer, 2000).

„« There is a strong association between smoking and affective, anxiety and substance use disorders. Jorm (1999) points out, in smokers aged 18-39years the prevalence of any mental disorder was 35% in both men and women.

Given this, the writer believes that it is essential for health professionals to offer symptom management and smoking cessation intervention to nicotine dependent patients who are hospitalised, taking up the ¡§window of opportunity¡¨. Cole (20

My initial contact with Mr X was about 24hrs after his last cigarette. The nursing staff had informed me during the referral process that he had been very demanding and ¡§was going to be a real problem¡¨.

On entering the room and introducing myself, Mr X loudly yelled ¡§I either need a F*** smoke or you to do something to stop these f*** cravings!!!¡¨ He continued to say; ¡§I just can¡¦t handle this anymore¡¨. I asked him to explain what it was that he could not ¡§handle¡¨.

Some topics in this essay:
Bupropion Investigations, Health Officer, Psychiatric Association, Liaison Nurse, Therapies NRT, Chapman& Jamrozik, Patients Perspective, Miyata Yanagita, Accident MVA, Miller Goldsmith, smoking cessation, nicotine craving, nicotine dependent, drug alcohol, nicotine dependence, smoking nicotine, liaison nurse, brief intervention, cessation smoking, history depression, nicotine replacement therapies, quit smoking program, patient develop strategies, consultation liaison nurse, psychiatric association 2003,