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Posted by: GEEzer aka teluklitik on 2010-01-05, 07:44:32
The Bible only gives us spiritual guidance and knowledge, NOT medical or computer knowledge. So, medically speaking, I think, once we are already addicted to nicotine, it is better to remain addicted, even for life. Once we accept this fact, we should try to limit our nicotine intake to a subsistence level so as to minimize the long term damage to our lungs. Also we need to allocate sufficient retirement funds to finance our expensive habit. What causes addiction? ... Eg, nicotine, caffeine, cocaine, heroin, meth, marijuana, alcohol, etc. .......Our brain, daily, naturally produces a small amount of neuro-transmitter chemicals, like serotonin(excitor), dopamine(sedator) and endorphin(painkiller). Besides the brain, other organs produce hormones that also act on the brain, eg testesterone(masculinity), cortisone(immune suppressor), etc. .....Nicotine is an analogue of serotonin. Alcohol is an analogue of dopamine. The amount of serotonin and dopamine that our brain secrete daily depends on our genes that is inheritted from our forefather. Eg if our father was having a good, happy, victorious and stress-free life when conceiving us, then we will secrete a higher amount of serotonin and dopamine. Hence, some people are naturally extroverts/ happy and some are introverts/ depressed ; some are naturally cowards/ timids(can't take stress) and some are braves/ heroes. .....Introverts/ depressed who naturally have low levels of serotonin are most likely to use nicotine to "enhance " their lives with more excitement, happiness and energy. Long term use of nicotine will eventually stop the brain from producing anymore serotonin, resulting in addiction. .....Cowards/ timids who naturally have low levels of dopamine are most likely to use alcohol to overcome the stresses and challenges in their lives, ie sedating themselves. Again long term use will eventually stop the brain from producing anymore dopamine, resulting in addiction. An introverted coward can always choose to live quietly and reclusively, without resorting to nicotine or alcohol. But many such youngsters are ambitious and easily influenced by others. With cocaine, there is the danger of overdose due to it's highly concentrated form. Cocaine produces an intense pleasurable "high " which is coveted by many. That is people chase after the "high " sensation. The problem is, our brain has a tolerance effect against unnatural sensations. That is, after a while, increasing amounts of cocaine is required to produce the same "high ". Excessive levels of cocaine in the body will slowly destroy it's internal organs like kidneys, livers, etc. Eventually killing the cocaine addict who chases after the "highs ". The key here is moderation. I think, the Holy Spirit can super-naturally help a naturally born introverted/ depressed and cowardly/ timid person to overcome his/ her deficiencies, eg Samson, Moses, etc. EPH 5:18. |
