Michelle,
I would love to help start a Women who Kick Butt campaign! I've worked on similar campaigns, everything from the Great American Smokeout to one we created called, "Preparation to Cessation". We liked "ours" better, as individuals who want to quit must prepare for their quit date, plan for triggers and relapses. The Smokeout was too "anti-smoking" for me; it seemed to target smokers who did and did not want to quit...sends out the wrong message. Our message was: we love smokers, and want them to stay on the planet longer! :-) Anyone who wants to quit, is ready to quit...we can help them!
I'll write more later on this subject; it is also my passion and more research is being done to provide answers to your questions, Michelle. The last I read, there are some gender differences with how our brains are "wired", and thus, the impact of addictive substances are "received" differently in each gender's brain. However, people are also wired with many similarities, and some studies suggest that women "self-medicate" more often than men. This makes sense, with the increased number of women who are diagnosed with depression and feel it necessary to self-medicate. Also, the trend has been (may be changing) that women use cigarettes as an appetite suppressor more than men. These statistics are ever-changing, and also depends upon which population (age, race, ethnicity) we are referring to.
Comment Reply
Michelle,
I would love to help start a Women who Kick Butt campaign! I've worked on similar campaigns, everything from the Great American Smokeout to one we created called, "Preparation to Cessation". We liked "ours" better, as individuals who want to quit must prepare for their quit date, plan for triggers and relapses. The Smokeout was too "anti-smoking" for me; it seemed to target smokers who did and did not want to quit...sends out the wrong message. Our message was: we love smokers, and want them to stay on the planet longer! :-) Anyone who wants to quit, is ready to quit...we can help them!
I'll write more later on this subject; it is also my passion and more research is being done to provide answers to your questions, Michelle. The last I read, there are some gender differences with how our brains are "wired", and thus, the impact of addictive substances are "received" differently in each gender's brain. However, people are also wired with many similarities, and some studies suggest that women "self-medicate" more often than men. This makes sense, with the increased number of women who are diagnosed with depression and feel it necessary to self-medicate. Also, the trend has been (may be changing) that women use cigarettes as an appetite suppressor more than men. These statistics are ever-changing, and also depends upon which population (age, race, ethnicity) we are referring to.
Thanks for your enthusiasm...it's contagious!
January 25, 2009 - 9:20pmThis Comment
Reply