Nicotine

1484 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Smoking health tax

It is a nagging voice behind every smoker’s head. It tempts every user that tries to quit into using it “one more time” before giving it up. With the chemical formula of C10H14N2, this alkaloid is better known as nicotine. Being the major chemical in tobacco, nicotine is the reason that users often get addicted to tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars and snuff. It is also because of this addiction that would indirectly causes over 400,000 deaths annually in the United States while costing almost $200 billion in the health sector; making it the most preventable cause of death (Center for Disease Control and Prevention 2010). The question then remains is: What can be done to amend this problem? Although currently there are public health policies are designed to curb tobacco use, such as levying taxes on tobacco products has been effective in deterring new smokers, it is less effective amongst existing tobacco users (CDC 2009). Therefore, a different approach is needed in order to construct a policy that would apply broadly to everyone; and to do this, one must examine the biological and social factors that are involved in nicotine addiction.

Acting as a natural herbicide for the tobacco plant, nicotine belongs to a class of naturally occurring nitrogenous compounds called alkaloids. The route of administration for nicotine is through a variety of ways, some examples include smoking, insufflation, chewing, transdermal and vaporization. In addition, depending on the route of administration the amount of time and dosage the amount of nicotine that is in the body may vary. For example: Although smoking would deliver the nicotine to the brain with ten seconds versus three minutes via chewing, the amount of nicotine delivered...

... middle of paper ...

...moking if their peers smoked. Those who have AA genotype, which has a low tendency towards smoking, would have a much lower chance of smoking, even if their peers smoke (Johnson et al. 2010).

Although the role of genetics seems to play a larger role in determining the potential for nicotine addiction, one should not completely disregard the social aspect as well. In order to make an effective public health policy, or any policies, all factors should be taken into consideration in order to achieve the best effect. For combating and preventing nicotine addiction an approach with genetic testing as well a set of prevention and intervention programs are needed in order to prevent needless deaths of 430,000 people every year (CDC 2010). With the support of everyone working towards the same goal, we can provide a brighter and a fresh deep breath of air for ourselves.

Show More
Related

  • Social work personal statement

    844 Words  | 2 Pages

    Smoking is a current issue, it has been there and it is here till now. It is the second major cause of death in the world; it kills nearly 6 million people each year. That is one person every 6 seconds. It’s responsible for the death of a one in ten adults and kills up to half of its users. Since it’s the leading preventable cause of all deaths, there is need to prevent it. Despite the negative side effects of smoking like; smoking kills, its exacerbates poverty, contributes to world hunger by diverting lands use to its production, its production damages the environment and reduces economic productivity, many people still smoke tobacco every day. It...

    Read More

  • Tobacco On Goldfish Metabolism

    706 Words  | 2 Pages

    Tobacco is connected with a number of negative effects in humans and a few other organisms. For example, the long list of negative effects range from birth defects and lessened lung capacity, to sexual impotence. All of the previously mentioned result from extended tobacco exposure in varying mediums and although they are negative effects associated with tobacco, it has also been proven that tobacco to acts as a stimulant to some animals (Nice 135). In studying how tobacco effects the body of any living being and its uses, over time new developments may progress that would allow us to use tobacco only for its positive effects while bypassing its negative ones.

    Read More

  • Review: Will Nightshade Kill You: The Process Of Making Tobacco

    1292 Words  | 3 Pages

    Tobacco is the common name of the plant Nicotiana tabacum and N. rustica, found in the Nightshade family. It is a green, leafy plant and is known for the nicotine that lies within its leaves. Tobacco has more than 70 different species, but only two are used today. The most popular is N. tabacum and it has never been found to grow in the wild. Today, tobacco is smoked, chewed, and snuffed. It is grown throughout both North and South America. In the United States, its grown in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia.

    Read More

  • E Cigarettes Essay

    1607 Words  | 4 Pages

    Nicotine is a highly toxic substance (LD40) which can affect the brain, central and autonomic nervous system

    Read More

  • Tobacco

    641 Words  | 2 Pages

    During the time period 1450 to 1750, the world went through major change and development. Nomadic power declined, and European Kingdoms became world powers. A world trade network was set up as contact amongst nations increased immensely. A population boom occurred throughout the world. Many civilizations that were once isolated were brought into the world economy. The Americas unknown until Christopher Columbus’ voyage in 1492 became a major part of the world economy as many European nations colonized much of the land. Large sea trade arose during this time period first by the Portuguese and Spanish and later by the English, French and Dutch. As European countries began exploring the Americas, an exchange of crops, animals, raw materials, diseases and new ideas were exchanged between the Americas and the rest of the world. This is known as the Columbian Exchange. One major component of the Columbian Exchange was the discovery of tobacco. Tobacco was first discovered in the Americas and became as cash crop. It was imported back to Europe, where it became vastly popular. As many middle class Europeans people began smoking, the demand for more tobacco from the Americas increased; colonies were set up to produce tobacco. With the demand for tobacco so high, labor was needed to farm the crop causing slaves to be imported.

    Read More

  • Smoking Cigarettes

    1832 Words  | 4 Pages

    Throughout the book, the conflict between the mothers, their Chinese tradition, and language and the daughters, their American tradition, and language are evident. Suyuan and Jing-Mei Woo are mother and daughter, respectively, who are characters that illustrate the conflict between the two cultures.

    Read More

  • Public Health Issue: Smoking

    2016 Words  | 5 Pages

    Encyclopaedia of Children’s (2013) stated that smoking is a form of inhalation of smoking from different forms of tobacco which include cigarettes, pipes, and cigars. Cancer Research (2012) and the World Health Organisation (2013) have confirmed that most tobacco products contain very high level of nicotine which can have additive effect and are made from tobacco leaf which are s...

    Read More

  • Tobacco: The Negative Health Impact Of Tobacco

    1457 Words  | 3 Pages

    Smoking cigarettes is a detrimental practice not only to the smoker, but also to everyone around the smoker. According to an article from the American Lung Association, “Health Effects” (n.d.), “Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., causing over 438,000 deaths per year”. The umbrella term for tobacco use includes the use of cigarettes, cigars, e-cigs and chewing tobacco. While tobacco causes adverse health consequences, it also has been a unifying factor for change in public health. While the tobacco industries targets specific populations, public health specifically targets smokers, possible smokers, and the public to influence cessation, policies and education.

    Read More

  • Smoking Satire Essay

    1636 Words  | 4 Pages

    Smoking is a lifestyle, a habit, and a trend. Smoking has become a social activity among teens, connecting them through the craving of a smoke. Smoking is seen as seductive and cool in the media and movies which influences teenagers to smoke even more. The World Health Organization has stated that “Tobacco kills around 6 million people each year. More than 5 million of those deaths are the result of direct tobacco use while more than 600,000 are the result of non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke.” As of April 2016, only 7% of teenagers in the U.S. smoke, but it is said that tobacco use will kill 8 million people annually by 2030. 99% of adult smokers start in their years as teenagers. Smoking is an epidemic that has taken control of people’s lives since 1881 and the media since the early 1900s. Smoking currently kills about 440,000 people a year in the U.S. I feel that it is an issue because it is the #1 most preventable way to die, but people still continue to smoke because of how it looks and how they are perceived as a person if they do. The fact that people become addicted to a trend that will attribute to their death for the sake of being thought of as cooler, is a problem that needs to be addressed.

    Read More

  • Nicotine Addiction

    1719 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • The Affects of Drug Abuse on Society

    1945 Words  | 4 Pages

    According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (2010), “Scientists estimate that genetic factors account for between 40 and 60 percent of a person’s vulnerability to addiction,” (p. 8). This statistic emphasizes how significant the genetic makeup of an individual is in relation to addictive substances (p. 8). There are additional trends that lead to enhanced levels of addiction.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay: The Dangers Of Smoking

    786 Words  | 2 Pages

    One of the biggest problems that people are faced with on a day-to-day basis is cigarette smoke. The sole cause for 480,000 deaths each year just in the United States is accredit to cigarettes(CDC). For a lot of the smokers the habit of smoking happens to assist them when under stress and dealing with issues that are unmanageable. Some smoke to appeal to their peers or simply because it “feels good.” Smoking one cigarette can lead to a major addiction. The effects of smoking hurt oneself and those amongst us. Smoking Kills as the ad portrays this revolver and cigarettes as the bullets, and also lists the side effects of smoking. Cigarettes causes cancer, increases the risk of you getting a stroke, highly addictive and causes a lot of health problems. Nearly 16

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Smoking Cigarettes

    1146 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.”

    Read More

  • The Causes and Effects of Smoking

    1031 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Tobacco and Cigarette Smoking

    1044 Words  | 3 Pages

    Cigarette makers know that nicotine addiction helps sell their products. Nicotine is the main ingredient in tobacco that causes addiction. Nicotine activates the parts of the brain that control feelings and pleasure. It only takes minutes for the effects of nicotine to disappear causing the smoker to take another puff to keep feeling good. (Junior Scholastic, 2006) When you utilize tobacco products, nicotine is expeditiously absorbed into your bloodstream. Within 10 seconds of entering your body, the nicotine reaches your brain. It causes the brain to relinquish adrenaline, engendering a buzz of pleasure and energy. The buzz fades expeditiously though, and leaves you feeling tired, a little down, and wanting the buzz again. This will result in lighting up another cigarette. Since your body is able to build up a high tolerance to nicotine, you’ll need to smoke more and more cigarettes to receive nicotine’s pleasurable effects and obviate withdrawal symptoms. This cycle will only continue to repeat resulting in addiction. Although for many once they’ve reached this point it seems almost impossible to quit smoking even when they want to. ("Nicotine and Tobacco Add...

    Read More

More about Nicotine

Open Document