Question: Do you think that Alcoholism and Smoking addiction both impacts different peoples physical and mental wellbeing, with examples on how, and if there are any positives to both smoking and alcoholism as they both involve self-control to quit the addiction?

Sam Burton answered on 13 Jun 2018:

Alcoholism and smoking both massively impact physical and mental wellbeing. A lot of studies have looked at how people, who are alcoholics can be diagnosed with depression, PTSD, anxiety and mood disorders to name a few. But its hard to work out which came first and how they interact, bit like the argument about the chicken and the egg which came first. Again with physical well being excess alcohol use increases the risk for liver issues, cardiac problems and risk of cancer so obviously has a very detrimental effect. Along with this is the issue of increasing the risk of obesity due to the excess calories that come with it. Abby can probably cover the part on smoking far better than myself.

I wouldn’t really say there is any positives to either of them, obviously some people can use them as coping mechanisms, but they can in turn lead onto further issues.