Tobacco was initially used by pre-Columbian Native Americans, who smoked it in pipes and even used it for hallucinogenic purposes in shamanic rituals. Christopher Columbus was given tobacco by natives and introduced it Europe when he returned from North America.

However, tobacco did not become widely used in Europe until the middle of the 16th century, when explorers and diplomats such as France's Jean Nicot (for whom nicotine was named) popularized its use.

Tobacco was introduced to France in 1556, Portugal in 1558, Spain in 1559, and England in 1565.

Millions of people smoke, and to many, particularly those that have been smoking for some time, the prospect of quitting seems daunting. An addiction to nicotine is a serious one, and is multifaceted: there is a physical component, in that your body craves the nicotine the cigarettes contain, and a psychological one, in that many habits and situations become associated with cigarettes for the smoker.

Yes, there are two ways to take that sentence. Take whatever meaning is most relevant to you!

If you really want to quit smoking this year, the key to making the change stick is being ready to quit. Make a conscious decision. Take into account your thinking and your true desires. Prepare and then take action.

If you simply said youd quit at midnight on Dec. 31, without any planning or preparation - Stick that resolution in the garbage!

Alcoholism is a devastating disease that effects millions of people every year. Recognizing alcoholism in yourself or someone else can be difficult. Alcoholism is defined as a disease that allows a persons use of alcohol to interfere with their life and the basic functioning of their daily tasks, needs and responsibilities.

Being a compulsive gambler is never really a good thing. That is simple really: you don't ever want to over-gambler, especially when you can't pay for your next "fix." Compulsive gambling is a disease, no matter how you look it; and like any disease-mental or physical-you must take a practical approach to diagnosing your problem and overcoming it.

We take you through the first week that Arlene made the conscious decision to stop gambling. This was a very emotional period where Arlene's self esteem was at the lowest in her life. She's a single woman who was just about to turn thirty-six years old and her life was crumbling around her.

Arlene decided to share her story of how she made it through her first week as a non gambler. Her goal was to reach out to others who also have a compulsive gambling addiction because she remembers the pain she went through.

Transformational Counseling is all about assisting another human being to live a life that they love and to live it powerfully. Transformational Counseling is about creating a space for others to learn how to transform their lives, to live a life differently from how it was in the past, to truly create what they desire. Transformational Counseling is about assisting others in their getting and utilizing a powerful technology that will enable them to make a true difference in their life and in the lives of others.

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese healing approach that is almost 3500 years old. It is based on the belief that chi, a vital energy force flows around 12 key channels around the body. Within these channels there are 365 acupuncture points, which can sometimes become blocked preventing the smooth flow of the vital energy, resulting in degrading health.

Tobacco is responsible for 1 in 10 adults dying worldwide which equates to 5 million deaths per year. Deaths are mainly due to collapse of the cardiovascular system resulting in heart attacks, respiratory tract disease and cancer. Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Still want to smoke a cigarette? Then read on...

Drug addiction is a complicated disease that overwhelms both the addict and those who love him. After abusing drugs for a period of time, the user becomes both physically and emotionally dependent upon the drug. Understanding the differences between drug abuse and drug dependence, and how the two relate to one another, is vital in helping the addict recover from this devastating disease.

* Understanding Drug Abuse