Sigma House

Hello Staff!

I hope this week is finding you in good spirits. As you know, I had the pleasure of attending a live training session last week hosted by the American Lung Association. The training was designed to give participants some foundation education on how to run a tobacco recovery clinic. We are well on our way to starting our very own clinic! The clinics will be open to outpatient clients, residential clients, staff, and the community. Stay tuned for more information on our first tobacco recovery clinic!

You may have noticed that I am no longer using the term "smoking cessation" Terminology is an important aspect for treatment professionals. It actually impacts the client and their perception of the information being received. "Smoking cessation" is no longer used because many clients are not aware of what the word "cessation" even means. In some cases, lack of understanding can even prevent the client from seeking treatment. I would like to provide a list of terms that we are no longer using in the field of tobacco recovery, and what terms to use instead.

Do not use the term "smoking". The preferred terminology is tobacco dose, tobacco use, and tobacco dependence.
Do not use the term "smoker". The preferred terminology is tobacco user and person who uses tobacco.
Do not use the term "habit". The preferred terminology is chronic disease, addiction, and dependence.
Do not use the term "quit". The preferred terminology is abstinence and recovery.
Do not use the term "cessation". The preferred terminology is treatment and recovery.

Have a great rest of the week!

Hello Staff and Happy Friday!

We are making great progress towards our goal of becoming a smoke free agency.  Next week Mardi (LSRC) and I will be attending a Smoking Cessation Seminar.  We hope to gain more education and tips to quit smoking, so that we can bring this information back home to you and our clients.  We are very excited for this experience!

We have previously discussed medicated assisted treatment for smoking cessation.  This includes nicotine replacement therapies, like the patches, gums, and lozenges, and also prescription medications. In addition to these, I also would like to provide some resources for more natural ways to quit smoking.  These options range from herbal supplements to even patches that supply a natural set of ingredients to your body to help you quit smoking.

If you are interested in this topic, I would definitely advise you to visit this site: MyQuitSmokingDiary.com (click the link to the left that says: Quit Smoking Naturally).

This site provides links to information on each homeopathic remedy.  You will have to do some reading in order to find a product that most fits your needs.  Most of these products work to reduce nicotine cravings, and some can even be used during a nicotine craving to work immediately.

Here is a list of the most popular homeopathic remedies:

• Botanic Choice Homeopathic Stop Smoking Formula
• Smoke Deter Homeopahic Sublingual Spray
• Cigarrest Homeopahic Tablets and Quit Smoking Program
• Stop-It Detoxifying Tablets and Craving Reducing Lozenges

Happy reading! If you have any individual concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. Friendly reminder: The Springfield city ordinance requires no smoking within 5 ft of facility doors. Also, we will be implementing an agency policy next month (July) that requires no smoking within 50 feet of all facilities.  There will be posted designated smoking areas at that time. Have a great weekend!

Hello staff! I hope you are having a great week!

Last week, we discussed certain chemicals that are found in cigarettes. Besides, nicotine, cigarettes also contain the chemical acetone. Acetone is commonly known as finger nail polish remover. In addition to this, if you smoke a pack a day or more, you are depositing 1.5 pounds of tar into your lungs each year. That's a lot of tar! Benzene is another chemical found in cigarettes. This chemical is used as a solvent in dyes and fuel. It is also a known carcinogen, or cancer-causing agent. Carbon monoxide is found in cigarettes, and is also emitted from car exhaust. Inhaling carbon monoxide prevents oxygen from getting to important parts of your body, like your skin and organs.

And the list goes on and on....... There are over 4,000 chemicals found in cigarettes. Here are just a few more:

Acacia gum, Acetic acid, Acetone, 6 Acetoxydihydrotheaspirane, 2 Acetyl pyrazine, 2 Acetyl pyridine, Alga resinoid, oleoresin and oil, Allura Red, Almond oil, Aluminium carbonate, Aluminium lactate, Aluminium phosphate, Aluminium trihydroxide, Amber oil, Ambrette seed oil, Ammonium acetate, +Amyl valerate, Angelica root extract, Anise and oil, para Anisyl alcohol, Arachis oil, Azorubin, Balsam oil, Beech tar extract, Benzaldehyde, Benzyl acetate, Bergamot oil, Bornyl acetate, Butyl acetate, Cadinene single, Calcium hydroxide, Camphene, d Camphor, Carbon dioxide, Carrot seed oil, Cascarilla oil, Cinnamyl acetate, Clove stem oil, Coriander extract, Cubeb oil, Cypress oil, Decanal, Diatomaceous earth, Diethyl sebacate, Ethyl formate, Eucalyptol, Eugenol, Formic acid, Gentian root extract, Geranium rose oil, Ginger oil, Glyceryl triacetate, Guar gum, Hexanoic acid, Hexyl alcohol, Humic acid, Hydroxypropyl cellulose, Iron oxides, Isoamyl alcohol, Isobutyl phenethyl alcohol, Keto dihydroisophorone, Isopropyl alcohol, Labdanum absolute, Lauric acid, Lemongrass oil, Lime oil, Linaloe wood oil, Linalyl acetate, Mimosa absolute, Methyl cellulose, Molasses extract, Mullein flowers, Musk pod extract, Phenethyl alcohol, Pigment Red, Polyvinyl acetate homo-polymer, Potassium chloride, Propane, Propionic acid, Propyl phenyl acetate, Pyroligneous acid extract, Quebracho bark extract, Rhodinol, Rose water, Rosemary oil, Rum ether.

If you have any individual questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to visit with me. Have a great weekend!

Heidi Andress, RN
Sigma House Recovery Center
800 S. Park Ave. Springfield, MO 65802

Hello Staff! I hope this week is finding you in good spirits.

We are moving right along with our agency goal to become smoke free. Providing education is a key component to our Quitter’s Win program. This week, I would like to go over some of the key chemicals found in cigarettes. There are over 4,000 different chemicals found in cigarettes, so the ones we address here are just the tip of the iceberg!

Nicotine is perhaps the most important chemical found in cigarettes when it comes to focusing on the cycle of addiction. Within 10 seconds of first dragging a cigarette, nicotine stimulates the release of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a feel good chemical, and is highly addictive. We see this dopamine cycle across the board with ALL of our drugs of addiction. This process is the logic behind the research that has stated that residential clients who quit smoking, along with drugs and alcohol, actually have a higher rate of success than clients who smoke during residential treatment do. Clients who do not smoke during residential treatment are more apt to implement important coping mechanisms in order to deal with stress and anxiety, as opposed to getting that dopamine fix every couple of hours during smoke breaks. The dopamine is able to take away feelings of stress and anxiety because it is a feel good chemical. Is smoking ever really a healthy way to cope with feelings of stress and anxiety?

Please stay tuned next week, as we continue to discuss more of the chemicals found in cigarettes. If you have any individual concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Heidi Andress, RN
Sigma House Recovery Center
800 S. Park Ave. Springfield, MO 65802

Hello Staff!

You have probably noticed the addition of the new signs around your facility, announcing the date of when our agency will become smoke free. If you are a smoker, chances are this change is creating some stress for you. As an agency, we fully recognize that quitting smoking is a very difficult challenge. You may be thinking, "So, what's in this for me?"

There are actually some immediate health benefits in store for you. Within 20 minutes of your last cigarette, your heart rate and blood pressure decrease. Within only 24 hours, your carbon monoxide level returns to normal. Within just 2-3 months, your risk of heart attack decreases and your lungs will begin to function better.

This will be a difficult process for you, but you are not alone. Over the course of the next year, as we work towards becoming a smoke free agency, we will do our best to provide you with supportive services. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any individual concerns.

Heidi Andress, RN
Sigma House Recovery Center