The 13th session of the fifth series of private training workshops of Congress 60, in Naein branch of Congress 60, began on Monday, October 29, 2023, at 3:00 PM. The workshop was held by William's guide, Mrs. Zahra as the guest speaker, Ms. Somayeh as the Guardian and Ms. Zeinab as the secretary with the agenda "Cigarettes."
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Summary of the Guest Speaker’s speech:
I thank and am grateful to God for giving me the opportunity to be in this position.
Dr. Haj Rasouli, in the "Nicotine" CD, explained that our bodies contain billions of cells, each with an organelle called mitochondria, which acts as the cell's powerhouse. This powerhouse produces energy, which is necessary for everything, even sleeping. The mitochondria converts the food we consume into energy, which we can only obtain through a molecule known as ATP.
So, where is nicotine in our body? Here we need an intermediary called nicotinamide, which is derived from nicotine. In fact, we have nicotine in our bodies — even the amount of nicotine is more than all neurotransmitters. Why? Because nicotine is present and secreted in every cell. However, when a person smokes cigarettes or other tobacco products, cigarettes introduce nicotine manually into the body, shutting down the entire cellular powerhouse. As a result, the natural secretion of nicotine is blocked. Since the person needs energy, they have to constantly consume cigarettes, just unlike someone addicted to opium or other drugs, who might only use them three times a day; cigarette smokers need to smoke constantly, even they have to wake up at night to smoke and then going back to sleep. These individuals also do not have regular sleep because they experience energy shortages even during rest, requiring further nicotine intake.
Mr. Dezhakam, in the “Exercise 2” CD, said, “Our body is our home, and smoking cigarettes and hookah is like releasing tear gas in the city of our being.” He also stated in the "Destruction" CD, “The most vital substance our body needs is oxygen, which enters the lungs, passes into the bloodstream, and fuels the cells. By using tobacco, we damage and obstruct these processes.” Tobacco smoke introduces 4,000 toxins into the bloodstream, as they reach the cells prevent sufficient oxygen from entering the cells.
According to research, every ten puffs of a cigarette narrow the airways by 50%, resulting in reduced oxygen supply, vascular constriction, and increased blood pressure. Further consequences include bad breath, yellowed teeth, and heightened sensitivity to heat and cold.
The chemicals in cigarettes and hookah significantly affect bone density, leading to osteoporosis — a serious warning, especially for women. Unfortunately, many people consider hookah a non-addictive and a form of recreation, while in reality, hookah and cigarettes are a type of drug. True recreation involves traveling and enjoying nature’s beauty in fields, forests, and mountains. Since we have wrong outlook on life, we mistakenly view hookah as entertainment.
According to Mr. Khodami, “Smoking cigarettes thickens the blood, making blood flow through capillaries more difficult, and interrupts the brain's fueling and cooling process. This is why cigarettes smokers’ brains are warmer than non-smokers', resulting in less fuel for the brain, hair loss, and delayed sleep due to elevated brain temperature.”
Cure nicotine addiction with the DST, was first introduced by Mr. Dezhakam in Congress 60. In 2012, he successfully cured his two-pack-a-day cigarette addiction using this DST method. Currently, many travelers and companions who use tobacco join William White's legions, and with nicotine gum, they achieve a complete cure within ten months.
For any companions who use hookah or cigarettes and have avoided revealing it for any reason, I offer the assurance to seek their cure without any fear. In Congress 60, we’ve learned that we cannot gain courage unless we overcome our fears.
Mr. Dezhakam mentioned in the "William 6" CD, “If I confess today that I am a tobacco user, it does not diminish my character; rather, it rebuilds it because I have courageously and voluntarily sought a cure.” He also mentioned in the "Icebound 2" CD, Anyone with anti-values such as using drug or tobacco will not experience "فک رقبه" [this is the 13th verse of Surah Al-Balad, Balad means Body, and this verse "فک رقبه" means freeing from bondage and slavery]; it means their essence remains tied to [they are the slaves of] cigarettes and hookah, preventing them from attaining divine light.
But let me share my own experience: I was a daily smoker of 30 cigarettes. I initially started smoking because I wanted to be stubborn with my traveller (husband using drugs) to prove that I could quit whenever I decided [since I thought he does not enough determination to quit drugs]. However, not only was I unable to quit, but my consumption increased daily until it reached 30 cigarettes a day. My condition worsened each day, to the point that I wanted to end my life. After repeated failures, I was introduced to Congress 60 through Mrs. Marjan Moradi, and because I was exhausted and sincerely desired to be cured, I cured my addiction to cigarettes in Congress 60 using oral nicotine. Now, I have received the William White Shawl [a dark blue shawl symbolizing the nicotine Guides of Congress60] and I have a nicotine legion [to guide the cigarettes smokers to cure their addiction to nicotine]. So far, I have guided 30 people to be recovered, and I am grateful to God for this.
Translated by Companion Fateme and Banafshe
Revised and edited by Elahe
https://congress60.org/News/281194/%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AA%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D9%86%DB%8C%DA%A9%D9%88%D8%AA%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B4-DST