Missive from Michelle: Just blowin’ a cloud of black smoke
Lockdown had been extended by another two weeks and as smoking cigarettes is an addiction, the banning of the sale of cigarettes needs to end argues Highway Mail editor, Michelle Dennis in this opinon piece.
WHY has the Government stopped the sale of cigarettes during the extreme stress of lockdown, fear of getting the virus, very real financial concerns, loneliness, boredom and dramatic change of everyone’s day-to-day life?
South Africans already have among the highest rates of stress and anxiety in the world, highlighting the need to protect their mental health during the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak, said health expert, Vanessa Ascencao. She said the public should be conscious of their levels of stress, anxiety, and the risk of developing depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during the national lockdown.
Banning the sale of cigarettes during lockdown is not helping because smoking is an addiction to nicotine. Just because some one without any forethought has decided that cigarettes will not be sold – just after the 21-day lockdown was announced – does not mean people can or want to stop smoking.
Smokers understand that, “The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has identified smokers as a group of people at higher risk for severe illness if they contract the disease and that COVID-19 attacks the respiratory system,” according to Thembi Msane, spokesperson of SANCA National from a press release entitled: Lockdown: A curse or a blessing for addicts?
However, Msane goes on to say: “The daily rising number of new COVID-19 cases and the fear of the unknown increases the risk of stress, anxiety, panic attacks and difficulty sleeping. A person with Substance Use Disorder (SUD) may be triggered by the added stress and use alcohol, nicotine and other substances to relieve some of the tension, which can lead to increased consumption and addiction during this period.
Being placed in a confined space with family members, she said, can exacerbate withdrawal symptoms, discomfort, agitation and impatience in someone with SUD.”
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Smoking is an addiction. Unless the smoker makes a conscious decision to stop smoking when life is normal – and even then, it is a difficult substance to give up – they can’t simply stop.
Smokers, will, without cigarettes, begin to feel extremely irritated and even aggressive and will find illegal outlets to buy cigarettes to relieve a very real addiction. This will result in a boom for illegal cigarettes. It’s not like smokers want to prowl the literally empty street to find cigarettes, they will do so because they need their cigarettes to calm their nerves and cope.
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The USA’s National Institute of Drug Abuse confirms in a report entitled: Is nicotine addictive, that:
“Being without nicotine for too long can cause regular users to experience irritability, craving, depression, anxiety, cognitive and attention deficits, sleep disturbances and increased appetite.”
This decision not sell cigarettes is, therefore, deemed by many to be draconian and pushing the power to control people to the nth degree.
The bottom line is that repercussions and the effect on addicted smokers has not been considered and, therefore, will not control addicts who should not be in this position in the first place.
What the law says
Caxton Local Media’s legal advisor, Helene Eloff (LLM(cum laude)(UP), LLB(UP), Admitted Attorney. Legal Advisor and Journalist contributes this:
https://www.facebook.com/heleneeloff/videos/212097883407169/?__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDDcvOPdmjDttxzMLu8ZFgucTjN6HgrxALuINd48AiKRTkULA1d4B846NFy2tkiH0jEnjTiugKuQ6349VYb_pzhzC6_TlOGg28eAKjM34yUi4cAkJDhcJ9lOex1GnB7roOZQF35CFKeRz4QIAMNa05kP3iCi1E2NW2vT2Ey_G6y5IeTvDsTHIzIW7FmYtrlmRN83lsgIkZSEsDHBckkeOJbnt8vVzI04bxaWhGKxtGwMIPU0OmcldOlJTI9zSjp2X3wRCzk-YMuhpYwTSZqxA9xqQBJRPgM7WEdY1O4rI9snLos1jk-heYZVnvXxotzqmFqKGp2ZdJomnijTqOVIlY9b4b3CHaw&__tn__=-R
I also spoke to local lawyer, Frans van Oes from Dickinson and Theunissen for his legal opinion.
Van Oes said: “The Government took a broad view banning certain substances as they were not essential. However, I think this was arbitrary and they did not apply their minds properly.
“While people suffering withdrawals could go to their doctors about this addiction; they will probably be prescribed nicotine gum or tablets,” he said.
But smokers will tell you this will not replace the satisfaction of smoking a cigarette unless the smoker wants to give up.
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What SANCA said:
I asked SANCA National Co-Ordinator, Adrie Vermeulen to respond to questions regarding smoking as an addiction.
1. Do you think it was wise to ban cigarette smoking just after the 21-day lock-down was announced?
This is a difficult question to answer as it is about personal rights versus public health, but my opinion is that it is understandable that the ban on the sale of cigarettes was to protect citizens, who might already be vulnerable due to respiratory issues caused by smoking, being infected with the virus.
However, people were not well prepared for this and to change an addictive behaviour must be the choice of the person.
SANCA has in the previous year identified that there is a gap between policy and the intervention of it as can be seen with the prohibition of the sale of alcohol and nicotine during this time.
Therefore, SANCA National is aiming to bridge the gaps between policy and what is happening on the ground through hosting the Addiction Conference 2020 later this year from the 4th to the 6th of November 2020 in Tswane.
2. Would you agree that smoking is an addiction, and smokers cannot easily just stop smoking?
Nicotine is the active addictive substance found in tobacco products and is a central nervous system stimulant and is addictive forming. Addiction is characterised by NIDA (National Institute for drug Abuse in the USA) “…as a compulsive drug-seeking and use even in the face of negative health consequences”.
Tobacco Use Disorder is a DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition), diagnosis assigned to individuals who are dependent on the drug nicotine due to use of Tobacco products.
The immediate effects of nicotine administration are tachycardia, hypertension, increased respiration, hyperglycemia, enhanced memory storage, improved concentration, and appetite suppression.
Nicotine has a half- life of about two hours. Nicotine causes the release of dopamine in the reward system of the brain and is responsible for the “feel-good” or brief euphoric satisfaction described by smokers. This euphoria is very slight compared to other chemicals/substance used but it reinforces the need to smoke or use again. The increase in dopamine releases in the brain could over time change some of the brain’s functions and develop into an addiction. This addiction is fed by cravings to smoke or use nicotine and specific triggers can be identified that creates cravings such as sensory memories especially smell and taste of the product. The smoker learns that there is a benefit or pay-off for smoking and it acts as a learning signal to cope with stress, pressure, uncomfortable emotions, comforting routines, etc.
3. Would you agree that people coming off other substances use smoking cigarettes to help them stay off hard drugs?
From my experience as a social worker dealing with clients, this is not the case as cigarettes doesn’t help them stay off the hard drugs, but it is rather a way to cope with the cravings and discomfort to deal with the withdrawal symptoms whilst receiving medical care for the severity of their other addiction.
It is small amount of dopamine released in the brain that makes them feel a bit better. They also increase their coffee intake for the same reason as well as develop a sweet tooth.
4. While smoking is known to relax people under stress, would you agree that not being able to buy cigarettes, especially during a tense lock-down state, when the world as we know it, is changing, could lead to aggression, irritability and frustration.
Nicotine produces dependence and withdrawal symptoms kicks in when you stop using it. The body goes into withdrawal about one hour after the last smoke has been taken. Some of the common withdrawal symptoms include Irritability, annoyance, anxiety, and cravings for nicotine.
5. Is the process of stopping smoking for serious cigarette smokers, difficult? How difficult between 1 and 10?
This question can be best answered by a medical person, but it is my opinion that it must be the choice of the person to quit.
It is not about just giving up cigarettes but more about changing one’s mind set and getting ready to change their life without the substance. This takes time as we are all different. If one is “forced” to do so, as it is happening now, people might become “rebellious” and resentful and nobody likes their sense of autonomy to be taken away from them.
The nicotine itself is broken down in the body over 24 to 48 hours, but it is the hold on the mind that takes longer to break.
Be aware of the symptoms of withdrawal such as difficulty concentrating, nervousness, headaches, weight gain due to increased appetite, decreased heart rate, insomnia, irritability, and depression. These physical symptoms peak in the first few days but eventually disappear within a month.
6. You mentioned your helpline is busy as smokers are phoning in – does this not prove the how difficult it is for people to have to stop smoking before they are ready to stop?
People are asking for advice on how to quit smoking as there are very little programmes available.
The best ways for them is to get medical advice with a doctor or a pharmacist to recommend nicotine replacement medications to assist with the physical withdrawals and to further find telephone counselling over this period.
The cravings are harder to beat and one would need to find something to replace it either through finding a hobby, doing an online course, talking and writing about your feelings to the people you love and trust, baking or cooking, reading, etc.
7. Do you agree that smokers will, like users of hard drugs such as heroin, also find a way to buy cigarettes from illegal outlets?
I do not want to speculate on this matter as I don’t have the available data to provide you with a facts-based answer to this question.
8. Any other comments?
Your readers can contact us on 011 892 3829 or use the WhatsApp number 076535 1701 or visit our website on www.sancanational.info
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Final word
Now that lockdown has been extended to April 30, I think this banning of the sale of cigarettes should be re-addressed. The joke spreading on social media is that people can buy weed easier than they can cigarettes is not that funny.
However, all smokers want is the right and freedom to buy their cigarettes to preserve their sanity and contain their stress.
The burning question to Government is what in fact is being accomplished by not selling cigarettes besides disrespecting smokers, creating even more stressed out people and a booming illegal cigarette trade?
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
Dear reader,
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Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za).
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