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| | Calabasas in California is the first U.S. city to ban smoking in absolutely all public places, including on sidewalks in the community as well as parks outdoor businesses, restaurant patios and common areas of condominiums. Henceforth, smoking will be allowed only in designated areas at shopping malls and some workplaces. If a non-smoker asks a smoker to stop, the smoker must do so or face a possible $500 fine. At the same time, in Ohio, supporters of what would be a statewide ban on smoking are celebrating a legal victory they have achieved. A state judge has turned down a challenge to various petitions seeking to enact an indoor smoking ban in that state. Supporters of the ban turned in enough signatures in December to put the issue before lawmakers in Ohio. If the Legislature fails to act by early May, or alternatively introduces a bill that significantly changes the proposal, supporters can gather a new round of signatures to put the law before voters through a special vote of the people.
Nicotine effect:
Nicotine is a cholinomimetic agent, i.e., it increases the activity of acetylcholine in the central nervous system. Recently carried out research work indicates that nicotine also increases the dopamine level in the brain, which can be the factor for obtaining pleasure from smoking. One research indicated that attention and memory is better during tiredness in smokers when compared to nonsmokers.
Nicotine is one of the substances with strong addictive potential. While smoking, large amount of nicotine is pyrolyzed but even a residual small dose is sufficient for causing somatic and psychological effects including the formation of chemical dependence. Studies, carried out by Heningfield and Benowitz, have shown that nicotine, in a large measure causes more dependence than caffeine and marijuana, but in a lesser degree than alcohol, cocaine and heroin. In his study, Perrin gave the conclusion that nicotine, more than any other substances, possesses the ability to cause psychological dependence (even including alcohol, the strongest agent of general-somatic actions, which can lead to serious forms of mental frustration as a result of cessation).
The majority of smokers regularly smoke. According to the opinion of Canadian professor Jennifer О’Loughlin, nicotine dependence appears in teenagers after five months of starting to smoke.
It becomes difficult to quit smoking due to the symptoms of withdrawal syndrome, for example, sleeplessness, irritability, nervousness, tachycardia and a tendency to gain weight. The large percentages (about 60%) of people, who try to quit smoking, once again come back to the smoking habit within three months. The majority of smokers do not see the necessity to quit smoking, since the risks of smoking are long-term. Apart from this, it is established that the smokers, who are well informed about the smoking hazards, are inclined to underestimate it unconsciously.
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