Nicotine addiction
Cigarette addiction is responsible for over four million deaths every year. The question most people ask is why don’t people just put down their cigarettes? Well, the answer to that often asked question is nicotine. Nicotine is a neurotransmitter that targets certain receptors in the brain. It is a chemical messenger that induces feelings of pleasure. When someone takes a hit off of a cigarette, they ingest the harmful chemicals that can cause cancer and other serious health threats. They only inhale these chemicals to get one thing and one thing only, nicotine.
Curing addiction becomes harder and harder with each puff of a cigarette one takes. When nicotine is consumed, it communicates with the brain and is absorbed into receptor molecules, Doctors for years have undergone hundreds of experimental studies on the human brain to help understand just how these chemicals neurologically affect the brain, and which sectors of the brain are affected. This goal has not yet been accomplished due to the large amounts of receptor cells in the brain. In a study performed at the California Institute of Technology performed by Andrew Tapper, Professor Allan Collins from the University of Colorado, Several colleagues, and Henry A. Lester, the Caltech University Bren Professor of Biology revealed that nicotine affects a small subunit of the brain called alpha four. This subunit of the brain increases levels of pleasure, response, sensitization, and increases tolerance of multiple doses of the drug nicotine.
Many people do not know what nicotine does inside the brain. Here’s how it works when the nicotine reacts with the cells in the brain. It creates nerve impulse that jump chemically across a gap between two different nerve cells. This action is called a synapse. The neurotransmitter acetylcholine is used in this process and is used to affect specified receptors in the brain targeting post-synaptic nerve cells. After this process, the feel good brain messenger, dopamine, is released. This chemical is released into the brain creating an extreme high. The acetylcholine is then supposed to diminish the dopamine after completing its task. The drug disguises itself as acetylcholine causing the process of dopamine release to last for minutes rather than milliseconds.
In several lab studies performed on mice in the 1990’s, results concluded that nicotine also affects the subunits of the brain labeled beta two. Knowing how this drug affects many different subunits shows just how complicated it is to find a cure for addiction to this drug.
Nicotine binds to anticholinergic receptors which in turn cause dopamine to be released-causing a reward-benefit system
Drugs seem to cause surges in dopamine neurotransmitters and other pleasure brain messengers. However, the brain quickly adapts and these circuits desensitize, which allows for withdrawal symptoms to occur (3). Drug addiction works on some of the same neurobiological mechanisms that aid in learning and memories (3). "This new view of dopamine as an aid to learning rather than a pleasure mediator may help explain why many addictive drugs, which unleash massive surges of the neurotransmitter in the brain, can drive continued use without producing pleasure-as when cocaine addicts continue to take hits long after the euphoric effects of the drug have worn off or when smokers smoke after cigarettes become distasteful." (4)
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States and worldwide (Centers for Disease Control, 2013, World Health Organization, 2008). Tobacco cessation counseling is a vital component of any public health strategy seeking to decrease mortality, disease and costs associated with smoking. To that end, the Healthy People 2020 Tobacco Use Objectives cover three main areas: reducing tobacco use, instituting health system changes, and creating social and environmental changes (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2013). Objective TU-10 falls under the category of health system changes as it seeks to open doors for patients to make quit attempts and to pursue tobacco cessation methods by increasing tobacco cessation counseling by physicians and other health care providers.
The most commonly abused substances are Nicotine, Inhalants, Alcohol, Cocaine, Amphetamines, Prescription medications, Heroin, Ecstasy and Marijuana. 1a(National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2011) Initially, a person may find themselves using substances voluntarily and with confidence that they will be able to dictate their personal use. However, over the period of time that drug use is repeated, changes are taking place throughout the brain, whether it is functionally or structurally. Drugs contain chemicals that enter the communication system of the brain and disturb the way in which nerve cells would typically send, receive, and process information. The chemicals within these drugs will cause a disruption to the communication system by either imitating the brain’s natural chemical messengers or by over-stimulating the brains “reward system” by sending mass amounts of dopamine. As an individual prolongs his or her use of these substances, they may develop an addiction.
Tobacco is counted as one of the most dangerous drug and is one of the leading preventable causes of deaths in U.S. Many people put their life in danger by the use of this life taking drug, tobacco. The way Nicotine (which is derived from the tobacco plant and has very powerful affects on human body) works in our brain is by mimicking the actions of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine (ACh). Acetylcholine (ACh) and its receptors perform various functions of our body, including muscle movement, breathing, heart rate, learning, and memory. Acetylochine is also involved in releasing other neurotransmitters and hormones that affect our appetite, mood etc. When nicotine is introduced to our body, nicotine molecules, which are shaped like acetylcholine, take over the actions of acetylcholine and perform all its functions. Although, many studies described the negative health issues caused by the use of tobacco, the article, “Gender and the tobacco-depression” emphases on the relationship of tobacco and depression and its possible variations by gender in African America young adults.
What is Nicotine? Nicotine is a toxic liquid that is an active constituent of tobacco. It acts as an addiction and is also used in insecticides. When you smoke a cigarette you inhale nicotine. Why do cigarettes have nicotine in them? Since nicotine acts as an addiction it keeps people addicted to cigarettes. You need to smoke three cigarettes in 24 hours to be addicted to them. It takes three weeks after you quit smoking to not be addicted to nicotine any more, that’s why it’s so hard to quit.
Nicotine is addictive whether the user uses tobacco products or just smokes cigarettes. Addiction is what makes someone continuously smoke even when they are trying to quit. For some people, breaking the cycle is harder than others. Many people don’t know the various methods to quit smoking. When tobacco products are used, nicotine is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. In the matter of ten seconds of entering the body, nicotine reaches the brain. This causes the brain to release adrenaline, creating a buzz of pleasure and energy. The buzz evaporates quickly, leaving behind a tired feeli...
Cigarette smoking stay the top preventable cause of sickness and early death in the United States because not only it asserts over 400,000 lives a year but it enhances the danger of someone dying from illnesses such as heart disease, stroke emphysema and a diversity of cancers (Douglas E.Jorenby) . Despite information about the bad side effects of smoking on health, 25% of adults in the United States keep on smoking. One of the reason why people seems to not easily quit smoking and continue to do it has to do with the addictive nicotine, a substance found in all types of tobacco products.
The most common form of tobacco used is the cigarette. Smoking for most people gives satisfaction and pleasure. The tobacco chemicals that are released into the brain when inhaled cause a happy or joyous feeling to the person. People often turn to cigarettes to suppress hunger or relieve stress (Dichter). After a short period of time, a person can become addicted to the satisfaction they get from smoking a cigarette. Certain tobacco products contain toxins, carcinogens, and poisons that are all extremely harmful to the human body. 60 chemicals that are contained in a tobacco cigarette are cancer-causing agents (Wexner). It is these chemicals that make cigarettes as well as other tobacco products so addicting to their users. Over time the need for a cigarette increases and the harder it becomes to quit smoking. Some users turn to smoking alternatives in order to quit. The first thing a smoker will reach for is something that looks and feels similar to a normal cigarette.
Although there have been some experiment that disprove nicotines adverse effects, most studies point to nicotine as a very toxic agent. Nicotine is not essential to tobacco products. It is a naturally occurring slightly basic alkaloid with a pyridine and a pyrrolidine ring. It is estimated that the average smoker inhales with each puff, a dose of nicotine equivalent to .1mg nicotine given intravenously. Nicotines pKa is 9. Its half-life is two hours. Nicotine is converted to its metabolites by the P450 enzyme system and by aldehyde oxidases. Nicotine and its metabolites, such as cotinine, Nnitrosomornicotinine (NNN), and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)1-butanone (NNK) are toxic to humans. As is shown in P4, many people in the United States smoke. The average mg of nicotine per cigarette has declined in the United States in the1980...
My addiction to nicotine progressed from casual social smoking to consuming two packs a week. Although I’ve only been smoking for about one year, I had to quit before my addiction became much stronger. Like most smokers, I’ve tried to quit cold turkey on many occasions, but the mood and the will power lasts only until my synapses (nerve endings) start screaming, crying, and pleading with my conscious for a cigarette. The intendment of my quest was to discern the influences on my smoking habit and to curb the physical and psychological addiction through the implementation of specific reinforced behaviors. Positive reinforcers make me smoke, and negative reinforcers prevent me from smoking. By identifying positive reinforcements, I learned to quit smoking.
Leshner, A. (2011) Addiction Is a Brain Disease, and it Matters. Frontiers in Neuroscience: The Science of Substance Abuse.
Smoking cigarettes is a very deadly addiction that, unfortunately, affects 42.1 million adults in the United States and 6.4 million children. The reason why so many people get addicted to cigarettes is because of nicotine. Medicinenet.com says that nicotine is “made by the tobacco plant or produced synthetically”. Nicotine has powerful pharmacologic effects (including increased heart rate, heart stroke volume, and oxygen consumption by the heart muscle), as well as powerful psychodynamic effects (such as euphoria, increased alertness, and a sense of relaxation). Nicotine is also powerfully addictive.”
It’s not that easy to quit smoking cigarettes, it can be very hard especially for many people who have been smoking for years. Many people are addicted to this drug because of the nicotine that’s in the tobacco, which is very addictive. Nicotine is the most common word that most smokers use and is there excuse why they can’t stop saying “it’s so addicting”. Like heroin or other addictive drugs, the body and mind quickly become so used to the nicotine in cigarettes that a person needs to have it just to feel normal (Smoking). Nicotine is the main addictive ingredient in a cigarette that activates synthesis of a chemical called dopamine in the brain (Naturstopp). This is just one of the chemicals that are in a cigarette, there are over 599 more chemicals that are in a cigarette. To name a few there is acetone, ammonia, tar, benzene, cadmium, hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides etc (Naturstopp). Some of these chemicals might not seem harmful, but it’s the burning of these chemicals that produce toxic and carcinogenic compounds more than 4000 of them (Naturstopp). Smoking cigarettes can be devastating; especially with each inhale you exhale.
There are many causes which make people smoke, however it can be divided into two main causes: physical and psychological. First cause which is physical concerns the human body’s needs. Nicotine contained in cigarette is an addictive substance. It is the chemical which causes addiction. Nicotine reduces tension in the muscles and allows smokers to relax so they feel that they can relieve stress by smoking. Nicotine can also have a calming effect on people who are anxious and worried. This is why it can bring a feeling of tranquility and help smokers to cope with stress. Thus, people smoke when they are depressed, lonely or bored. Nicotine is absorbed by the smoker’s lung and intestines. Very quickly, nicotine can stimulate brain and certain types of nerves so heart rate and blood pressure go up; respiration increases. A little nicotine makes smokers feel more energy and improve concentration. As a consequence, these physical effects created by smoking play an important role in making people feel the need to smoke.