Differentiating traditional use of tobacco from its recreational use

For many First Nations people, tobacco has been used traditionally in ceremonies, rituals, and prayer for thousands of years.  It is used for a variety of medicinal purposes and its ceremonial use has sacred spiritual meaning because of its ability to link a person to the spirit world.  In the traditional sense, a powerful way for communicating with the spirits and the Creator is to smoke tobacco in a sacred pipe. 

Although First Nations regard traditional tobacco as sacred, differences remain in how it is viewed amongst Nations.  For instance, some First Nations, like the Haudenosaunee refer to the origins of tobacco in a Creation story.  Tobacco was one of the two plants (the other being the strawberry) that Sky Woman took with her as she descended to the earth. 

Other Nations, such as the Cree have noted that in the past  ‘tobacco’ grew naturally and was not just one plant.  Plants were often mixed together in order to come up with the ‘tobacco’ used for an offering.  In traditional First Nations context, tobacco is meant to be used in a sacred manner rather than satisfaction of an addictive need. 

The industry of commercial tobacco focuses on a recreational use that breeds addiction rather than using it for spiritual purposes.  First Nations Elders teach that all medicine is powerful and each may have a good side and a bad side.  If misused, tobacco, like other medicines has the power to harm you.  Recreational use (or misuse) of tobacco is use of tobacco in a harmful non-traditional way. 

Commercial tobacco and chemicals

A small portion of chemicals are found naturally in the green tobacco leaf while others are generated when tobacco is burned.

Other chemicals are added as part of the curing process to affect things like burn time, smell or flavour. 

Tobacco smoke known as Environment Tobacco Smoke (ETS) exposes people to over 4,000 chemicals –some of which are toxic and at least 50 are known to cause cancer.  Some of these chemicals include: 

• formaldehyde
• hydrogen cyanide
• carbon monoxide
• tar
• arsenic
• cadmium
• lead; and of course
• tobacco
• nicotine

Nicotine addiction

Many smokers continue to use tobacco even though they wish they could stop. Nicotine causes chemical and biological changes in the brain. It is known as a “reinforcing” drug, which means that users desire the drug regardless of damaging effects.  The human body builds a tolerance to nicotine and the effect of the drug is reduced over time.  As a result, people tend to smoke more regularly over time.  Addiction to nicotine is not immediate – it may take weeks or months to develop.

Nicotine is considered addictive because it:

• alters brain functioning; 
• people use it compulsively; and
• very few people can smoke occasionally.

Nicotine addiction is very complex and highly individualized. Two terms that have been used in part to convey this complexity are physical addiction and psychosocial addiction.

Physical addiction is illustrated by withdrawal symptoms like headaches, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, hunger and decreased heart rate and blood pressure. These phenomena may appear when the body is in a state of repair.

Psychosocial addiction is illustrated by the fact that smoking gives pleasure.  This can range from the simple tactile or oral pleasure of handling and drawing on a cigarette to the comfort of a quick fix in times of anxiety, anger and other stress.  In addition, while social pressure (peer pressure) may cause one to become addicted, there are fewer external pressures to quit than there are with other addictions.  For example, smokers are not in immediate danger of losing their jobs or families due to their addiction.  While physical withdrawal symptoms may disappear in weeks, psychosocial aspects that trigger a craving to consume a tobacco product may persist for months or even years.

First Nations non-traditional use of tobacco

Generally speaking, there appears to be some work to be done in the re-education of First Nations about the differences between traditional and non-traditional uses of tobacco.  According to data collected during the 2002/03 First Nations Regional Longitudinal Health Survey (published in 2006):

• Almost half of all First Nations are daily smokers (46.0%), with an additional 12.8% self-identifying as occasional smokers.

• Younger First Nations adults, aged 18-29 years, have the highest proportion of daily smokers (53.9%).

• There are significantly fewer daily smokers in the older age categories (23.5% for age 60+) compared to the younger age groups.

• There is a higher prevalence of smoking among First Nations female youth, across all age groups.

• 36.6% of First Nations children were exposed to some maternal smoking use.

WHAT ARE COMMON tobacco related health problems?

Non-traditional use of tobacco is on the verge of becoming the number one killer in First Nations communities and is already the leading cause of preventable death.

Smoking contributes to many health problems such as:

• heart problems;
• cancer of the mouth, throat, tongue, voice box, bladder, cervix;
• emphysema;
• chronic bronchitis;
• tooth loss or gum disease;
• stomach ulcers; and
• urinary tract or bladder infections.

Smoking may also play a role in worsening the severity of diabetes complications such as amputation, vision loss, and stroke.

 Second-hand tobacco smoke can hurt non-smokers as much or more than smokers. This is because there is more than three times the amount of tar, and over six times the amount of nicotine in second-hand smoke than inhaled smoke. If parents or others smoke around a child there are higher incidences in the children of:

• middle ear problems
• coughing
• wheezing
• asthma   

Economic Costs of smoking

The cost to the consumer who purchases tobacco is not the only economic cost associated with smoking.  In Canada, health care associated costs of smoking are at least in the 10’s of billions of dollars. Some of these additional costs include things like:

• hospitalization
• physician visits
• drug treatment
• lost work time
• fires
• costs related to premature death

TOBACCO CESSATION METHODS

Cessation methods for non-traditional use of tobacco include:

• Consulting a local health centre or health care professional.
• Cold turkey: According to the First Nations Regional Longitudinal Health Survey, this method was applied by 88.5% of First Nations smokers.
• Medications to help with withdrawal: While mainstream medications can double your chances of quitting, only 3.7% of First Nations people used this method.
• Support Group/Counseling/Native Spirituality: This can help you understand what to expect, how to cope with symptoms of withdrawal and also act as motivators for quitting.  13.2 % of First Nations preferred using this methodology to stop smoking.

First Nations Centre strategies for PREVENTION AND CONTROL of non-traditional tobacco use

Through its many health research projects, the First Nations Centre is actively involved in efforts to comprehensively raise awareness and understanding with regard to First Nations health issues —such as the complex ones generated around the use of tobacco and the consequential effects this may have on overall health.

For more information contact:

First Nations Centre,

National Aboriginal Health Organization
Email: fnc@naho.ca

Related Links

Respected First Nations Elders comment on the differences between traditional and commercial use:

www.tobaccowise.com/

traditional/elders

Health Canada presents a perspective on traditional   and non-traditional use of tobacco as well as other facts.

First Nations youth present some excellent key facts  about using tobacco –  including definitions and the respective adverse health effects of commercial tobacco.

Nicotine, the addictive element of tobacco, is extremely  poisonous if consumed in large amounts. For this reason, new smokers might experience coughing, dizziness and a dry, irritated throat. Other effects may include nausea, weakness, abdominal cramps, headache, coughing or gagging. These symptoms abate as the user develops a tolerance to nicotine.

Health Canada offers several key facts about tobacco addiction and withdrawal symptoms under the ‘Healthy Living’ component of their website.

For chapters on non-traditional use of tobacco among First Nations adults and youth check out Chapters 9 and 22 of the  First Nations Regional Longitudinal  Health Survey Technical Report.

Government of BC

Tobacco Facts

The National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation provides some general and First Nations specific facts about the non-traditional use of tobacco including several potential health problems.

Health Canada offers   information on the health effects of smoking and smoking

diseases.

This article commissioned by the Public Health Agency of Canada expands on how some of these smoking related costs come about.

Quit Smoking Toolbox

The National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program lists and links to First Nations Addictions Treatment Centres by region and by type.

The Nechi Training, Research, and Health Promotions Institute provides a culturally based manual on tobacco cessation for First Nations youth.