The front-page article in a recent Wall Street Journal summed it up: “The stars are lighting up again.” The coverage chronicled how pop stars and several recent movies in 2025 were effectively eroding “a years-long decline in U.S. smoking rates” by displaying smoking as an acceptable social element, essentially promoting its use. As one health care expert warned about the power of popular role models in today’s society, “I find that concerning – glamorous, attractive people smoking cigarettes.”

Why should people be concerned about this? Is smoking really all that bad?

As a long-time practicing physician in southern Indiana, I emphatically agree – smoking is really not a good habit or option for people of any age, but especially for young people.

Fortunately, strong efforts are underway in our healthcare service area – a region known in the past for unhealthy tobacco and related use – to educate and warn our people about the dangers of smoking and tobacco use.

What an EMT sees on the job

Stephen Parrott, a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) with 28 years of experience, is bringing his high-voltage “Tough Talk” to the area, recently speaking to high school students in Crawford, Lawrence, and Orange Counties. Five years ago Parrott – whose day job is serving as a field supervisor for the third largest ambulance service in Kentucky – started presenting programs about drug awareness in local high schools in Indiana and Kentucky, based on his personal experience of treating teens who have overdosed or are addicted. Here are some excerpts of his key messages:

“Many teenagers continually use and experiment with drugs, not knowing what counterfeit drugs may be in what they’re taking, including deadly fentanyl,” he explains. As his contact with high school students expanded, he learned about a critical pathway: “everything starts with experimenting with tobacco.”

Some 35% of teenagers who use substances first started with using tobacco for the nicotine effects of dopamine production in their brain. Many teenagers face conflicting emotions, anxiety, social pressure, and other issues. When they find that nicotine in tobacco can temporarily accelerate the production of dopamine – “that’s the euphoria neurotransmitter that makes people feel good,” he said. “Teens start chasing that high and get their dopamine dump.”

The problem? The body gets used to the nicotine boost, so teens can start experimenting with other drugs, causing a whole host of other issues. Even vaping cartridges can pose major problems, as teens who buy vaping products on the street often have no idea what they are actually buying.

Sadly, when experimentation rises to this level, deadly fentanyl can be introduced as a counterfeit to what a teen or young person may actually think they’re buying or using. The result can quickly turn tragic.

The toughest part

“I ask students what they think is the toughest part of my job,” Parrott said. “They often say responding to car crashes or other major accidents. That’s bad for certain, but that’s not the worst part of my job.”

The most difficult and hard part? “The toughest part of my job is when I have to tell a parent that their child is dead because they accidentally overdosed on illegal fentanyl or some other substance.”

A critical element? “As parents or caregivers, we all have to remember that we were all young once – ten feet tall and bulletproof – or so we thought.” Parents “have to support teens in providing education about the dangers of substance use, including starting with tobacco and vaping.”

“My presentations to high school students are called ‘Tough Talks’ and there’s a reason for that. It’s not easy to talk about these things, but it’s critically important.”

The point? Like Parrott’s EMT experience, I have seen the terrible effects in my healthcare career.  Tobacco use or vaping is not safe. If you or a friend or loved one is using substances, help is available. Don’t wait for the tragic accident – find a trustworthy source and protect yourself, even if the pop stars are not in alignment.

Finally, know a smoker who wants to quit? Contact any of our SICHC offices for a free Quit Kit – all inquiries are confidential (visit https://sichc.org/ for location information).

A board-certified family physician, Dr. Curtis Thill has practiced medicine in Crawford County for more than 30 years.

The post Smoking and drug use – protect yourself and your teen now appeared first on Southern Indiana Community Health Care.

When a patient tells me they want to quit smoking, I often take a moment to both encourage them for making a good decision and also to acknowledge what that really means. Breaking a complicated habit that may have existed over years – even decades – is no small decision.

In truth, making a personal commitment to stop smoking often paradoxically represents one of the hardest and most courageous steps a person can take for their health. But, as I encourage my patients, it’s one that has both immediate and long-term benefits.

Consider these facts: quitting smoking is more than breaking a habit. It involves breaking a relationship with something that has quietly shaped daily routines, emotions, and even who you are. Many people don’t fully appreciate the reality that nicotine is a powerful and highly addictive chemical compound.

Long-term smoking and exposure to nicotine literally changes your brain chemistry. Through long-term use, this powerful chemical actually weaves itself into the behavioral fabric of how you cope, relax, or reward yourself.

That’s a key reason why when people stop smoking, uncomfortable physical feelings and emotional changes quickly appear. The good news? It’s natural to feel both, especially in the first few days or weeks, and these conditions will go away in time.

The body’s challenge: adjusting to life without nicotine

There’s more good news when you quit smoking: literally within a few hours of quitting, your body begins the process of healing. Even within a half hour of your last cigarette or nicotine-saturated vape, your blood pressure and heart rate will move toward healthy levels. Carbon monoxide levels will start to drop, giving your body more access to energy-producing oxygen. By the next day, things will start to taste and smell better.

A challenge? Nicotine exposure helps produce the “feel-good” dopamine neurotransmitter in your brain. When that level drops, the result can be symptoms of irritability, restlessness, headaches, fatigue, or just feeling “off.”

For many people, the first two weeks are the toughest. But I remind my patients that these uncomfortable symptoms are simply signs your body is recalibrating and taking back control.

The mind’s challenge: breaking emotional ties

Here’s an important consideration: after the physical cravings fade (and they will fade), breaking the emotional ties to smoking can be tough. Why? For years, cigarettes may have marked your “thinking time” with coffee, a pleasant break from work stress, or an awarding companion on the drive home. When you find yourself in these situations after quitting, those small moments become powerful triggers to reach back for a smoke.

Many people find that when they stop smoking, they suddenly have to face stress, boredom, or loneliness without that familiar coping tool. That can feel unsettling—but it also represents an incredible opportunity to rediscover healthier new ways to find calm and comfort.

A new beginning

When people experience these physical and mental issues after quitting, some may erroneously suggest that the person step up the personal “willpower,” particularly if there is a momentary setback. “Willpower” is not the issue. Given the addictive potential of nicotine, successful cessation of smoking will probably be a series of challenges and achievements – everyone usually has a different experience.

Sometimes it takes several attempts before the habit is truly broken. Sometimes nicotine gum or other options can help.

Success in quitting is often more successful when it’s a team effort. Talk with your provider for options. You can also go online to websites like https://sichc.org/break-the-habit/ or https://smokefree.gov/ for a wealth of free useful information and encouragement.

If you’ve tried before and struggled, try again. A key fact? Every attempt brings you closer to success. Your provider, including the team at Southern Indiana Community Health Care, can walk alongside you with tools, medications, and encouragement that can make a difference.

You’ve got more strength than you think—and your future self will thank you for every breath that’s free of smoke.

A board- certified family physician, Dr. Curtis Thill has helped many people to successfully quit smoking during 30 years of practicing medicine in southern Indiana.

The post Breaking the Habit – Finding Freedom from Smoking appeared first on Southern Indiana Community Health Care.