The DST Method: The Best Way to Treat Nicotine and Smoking
The topic of smoking in the annual agenda looks like a shiny title in the treatment journey. Contrary to the smoky image it initially evokes, it symbolizes a bright world free from man-made manipulated smoke.
In the book Fourteen Articles authored by Mr. Dezhakam, you can find an interview with Professor William White entitled as “Quitting Smoking” in December 2012. There is also a pilot study done in January 2016 which is incorporated. This article was also published in the Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly in the United States on June 8, 2015.
The importance of this issue becomes even more evident when we recognize that nicotine addiction remains one of the leading causes of humans death.
In the early years of the Congress 60, non-governmental organization foundation, smoking was not prohibited. It was even common during sports activities and breaks between competitions. Why? Because Mr. Dezhakam himself believed that smoking had more benefits than the commonly heard disadvantages. However, over time, the phrase Hearing is not the same as seeing changed to a reality for him.
Mr. Hossein Dezhakam, the creator of the DST method for drug abuse treatment —who himself smoked more than 40 cigarettes daily for about 35 years, experienced a pivotal moment. Around 2:00 PM on February 4, 2012, while speaking with a crystal meth user who was in a state of complete hallucination, he encountered a minor moment of stress. Shortly after, his condition worsened, and he was taken to the hospital.
The medical report indicated a highly dangerous stroke. Ultimately, the doctor strongly advised against tobacco use, placing Mr. Dezhakam at a crossroads: either continue smoking—risking another heart attack, hospitalization, disruption of essential work and life activities, and even death—or quit smoking, regain his health, maintain continuous activity, and extend his lifespan.
Despite experiencing a strong craving for nicotine, he chose the second option. Once again, his creativity and keen insight led him to dismiss ineffective, previously attempted methods. Instead, he opted for oral nicotine as a solution to regain his health.
Mr. Dezhakam then applied the DST method (gradual reduction approach)—previously used for curing opium addiction—to treat smoking of cigarettes. Just as he had transitioned from smoking opium to oral opium, he now shifted from smoking nicotine to oral nicotine. The next steps involved gradually reducing nicotine intake using the DST method, ultimately reaching complete cessation.
This approach had the added advantage that nicotine addiction treatment requires only about three months of adaptation. Additionally, there was no strict requirement for a set daily schedule when using oral nicotine, though the number of doses remained important.
Among the available oral nicotine products, Mr. Dezhakam chose nicotine gum because its chewing motion closely resembled the act of taking puffs from a cigarette. However, he noticed a crucial flaw in its providing line: while nicotine gum had been manufactured for years, a structured method for using it as a treatment had never been clearly defined.
With his usual precision and keen insight, Mr. Dezhakam addressed this issue. By analyzing the cigarette pack and the number of cigarettes a person smoked daily, he accurately estimated the nicotine content per cigarette. This distinction highlights the difference between mass-produced products lacking a structured consumption plan for treatment and the systematic, framework-based approach of Congress 60 under Mr. Dezhakam’s watch—demonstrating that in existence, everything must have a proper measure.
Based on this principle, each piece of factory-produced nicotine gum was divided into four portions for structured treatment use, rather than being consumed all at once.
Our body’s cells contain structures known as mitochondria, which function as the cell’s power plants—producing and releasing energy. For this energy production to occur, an intermediary chemical compound called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is required.
Tobacco users turn to nicotine to enhance their cells' energy extraction. While cigarettes contain 4,700 different chemicals, the one most commonly recognized is nicotine—which, interestingly, is the least harmful and even the most beneficial among them. The real damaging components of cigarettes are tar and other toxic compounds, rather than nicotine itself.
However, there is a crucial yet often overlooked aspect that Congress 60’s treatment approach takes into account—something that global addiction specialists in the fields of drug, alcohol, pill, and nicotine addiction fail to fully recognize.
This key scientific factor is the ability of alcohol, drugs, and nicotine to cross the blood-brain barrier (the network of capillaries that delivers blood to the brain). Once these substances enter the brain, they directly impact brain function and alter a person’s mood and behavior. This fundamental understanding is why addiction treatment remains ineffective when not approached scientifically and systematically.
Therefore, a person who consumes tobacco or drugs undergoes a biochemical shift from their natural state. Restoring physical and mental health requires bringing the biochemical function of the brain back into its natural balance.
Achieving this balance depends on three crucial factors: The right medication, The necessary duration, The proper method.
Everything we have discussed reinforces Mr. Dezhakam’s statement that the most important support for individuals who decide to quit and treat smoking is providing them with accurate information, awareness, and a scientifically sound treatment method. This ensures that they can join the William White Legion and follow their treatment process correctly.
Additionally, this nicotine treatment method—using nicotine gum—is both affordable and accessible.
Reviewing the nicotine treatment approach in Congress 60, it becomes clear that the DST method is highly effective in physiologically resolving any form of addiction to drugs and nicotine.
Typing: Companion Guide Zahra (Third Legion)
News Correspondent: Companion Shahin
Photography: Companion Parisa
Editing and Submission: Companion Zahra
Translated by: Traveler Arash
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