A newly released study shows a link between drinking, depression, anxiety and smoking. A survey of 8,000 Wisconsin residents, focusing on smoking and health, reveals some disturbing facts, for both the smokers and the doctors who care for them, so says Dr

A newly released study shows a link between drinking, depression, anxiety and smoking. A survey of 8,000 Wisconsin residents, focusing on smoking and health, reveals some disturbing facts, for both the smokers and the doctors who care for them, so says Dr. Michael Fiore, Director of The Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention."There is an enormous link between tobacco use -- specifically smoking -- and some other very high risk behaviors and concerning health conditions. In particular, we found extremely high rates of alcohol use, heavy drinking and binge drinking among people who smoke in Wisconsin." Fiore says male smokers were even more likely than female smokers to report binge drinking or heavy drinking. He says the findings also pointed out the powerful link between depression and anxiety among smokers. He says, in particular, women who smoke had very high rates of current or passed depression and anxiety. 24-percent of women who smoke report being depressed versus only 9-percent of depression rates among those who've never smoked. It's like the old chicken and the egg question. Fiore says it's impossible to say which came first, the drinking, depression and anxiety or the smoking. "What we do know, though, is that the same part of the brain, the neurochemical pathways, that are associated with alcohol dependence, which are associated with depression are also associated with tobacco use, in particular a brain chemical, or neurotransmitter called Dopamine." Dr. Fiore reminds Wisconsin smokers trying to quit that there is help out there for you, simply by calling the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line free of charge. A counselor will work with you every step of the way to help you quit. Just call 1-877-270-STOP. Copies of the report with additional statistics are available online.

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