Am I hooked?

Hooked on nicotine checklist for young people

Find out if you are hooked on nicotine by answering the ten questions below.

1. Have you ever tried to give up, but couldn’t?
2. Do you smoke now because it is really hard to give up?
3. Have you ever felt like you were addicted to smoking?
4. Do you ever have strong cravings to smoke?
5. Have you ever felt like you really needed a cigarette?
6. Is it hard to keep from smoking in places where you are not supposed to, like school?
7. When you tried to give up smoking…(or when you haven’t smoked for a while) Did you find it hard to concentrate because you couldn’t smoke?
8. Did you feel more irritable because you couldn’t smoke?
9. Did you feel a strong need or urge to smoke?
10. Did you feel nervous, restless or anxious because you couldn’t smoke?

If you answered yes to any of these questions: you are hooked on nicotine. Don’t wait until you have all 10 symptoms before you try to give up.

• Many young people believe that they can’t give up because they are too weak. But nicotine addiction isn’t just ‘in your head’.
• Nicotine causes physical changes in your brain. You feel these changes when you give up. Giving up smoking is often hard, but it’s always harder when you do it alone. Find out more about the withdrawal symptoms and how to cope with them.
• Remember: giving up can be difficult but you don’t have to do it alone.

Start your quit plan today or contact the National Smokers’ Quitline on 1850 201 203 to talk to an advisor or find out what help is available in your area.