Nicotine is the one of the many chemicals found in tobacco products and more commonly used in the form of cigarettes. These days other products such as nicotine chewing gum, mouth sprays and patches are also utilised but more frequently as a temporary measure to quit cigarette smoking. These nicotine replacement products deliver a fixed dose to alleviate the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal and are rarely used as means to continue the addiction. Although nicotine itself has a host of effects on the body, the dangers associated with nicotine specifically is minimal. However, the wide range of other chemicals in burning tobacco have been implicated in serious disease, including cancer.
‘Sugars’ is the street name of a popular drug in South Africa which is a heroin-derivative where heroin is mixed with small amounts of residual cocaine. It is then used together with other drugs like cannabis (marijuana, dagga) or inhaled on its own. The drug mix is cut with other substances that give it bulk and may make the effects more potent – the most common of these bulking agents being rat poison. Like tik (crystal meth) it has become a popular drug among teens and it is highly addictive with a poor rate of recovery.
Cigarette smoking is a known health hazard. While cigar and other means of tobacco smoking, as in pipes, are not as common as cigarette smoking, the dangers are the same. Some new evidence suggests that tobacco smoking through a hookah (‘hubbly bubbly’) may be more toxic than cigarettes and cigars. Most cigarette smokers are well aware of the dangers and with warnings on the packaging, it is difficult to turn a blind eye to the potentially fatal consequences of cigarette smoking.
The dangers of cigarette smoking is widely publicised in the media and smokers cannot claim to be ignorant about the dangers of this habit as cigarette packs now contain warnings. While cigarette smoking poses a health risk to all smokers, pregnant women should be more cautious as they are risking both their pregnancy as well as the health of their child in the future. Pregnant women who do not smoke but are exposed to cigarette smoke (secondary smoke) are also at risk of these detrimental effects associated with cigarette smoking in pregnancy.
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The festive season is often marked with excessive alcohol consumption and while this may be part of the revelry, it can also lead to conditions like acute pancreatitis. Most cases of acute pancreatitis leading to emergency room visits occur immediately after Christmas or New Year’s day. The pancreas is small gland situated in the abdomen and plays a role in digestion and regulating blood sugar levels. In acute pancreatitis, the pancreas is inflamed to the point that it causes symptoms that can range from mild discomfort to extreme pain.
Crystal meth has become a well known drug due to the explosion of this narcotic on the South African drug scene. Known locally as ‘tik’, crystal meth use has spread throughout South Africa and is growing as the drug of choice among teenagers. Crystal meth belongs to a category of drugs known as methamphetamines and is more addictive than other popular drugs like cocaine.
