An Overview of Tobacco Addiction for Anyone Who is Trying to Quit

Nicotine is a drug of abuse. The drug is obtained by the use of tobacco products including chewing tobacco, cigarettes, snuff, cigars and pipes. Nicotine patches also contain this very potent poison. Yet, products containing nicotine continue to be sold legally and are the greatest threat to preventable disease worldwide. Nightshade and Tobacco Nicotine comes from the family of nightshade plants that includes tobacco. Nightshades may be toxic due to the production of alkaloids which are chemical compounds containing nitrogen. While some alkaloid containing plants may be used for recreational use, such as tobacco, poppies and coca leaves, others have been used historically to coat the tips of poisonous arrows and the salts of nicotine have been used as insecticides and fertilizer. Preparations of the nightshade plants include nicotine based drugs, morphine, codeine and cocaine. Chemical Effects of Tobacco The average cigarette produces 1 mg of nicotine. It has potent stimulant effects which leads to its abuse potential and the difficulty users have breaking the habit are similar to those of heroin or cocaine. Nicotine has potent mood-altering effects and is both a stimulant and a relaxant. Users experience the mixed effects of enhanced alertness and relaxation. Alertness is achieved by the release of acetylcholine in the brain, one of many chemicals that are released after a cigarette is smoked. The effect is similar to other psychostimulants. The combination of acetylcholine and norepinephrine increase energy, and acetylcholine’s combination with a type of endorphin reduces pain. Nicotine acts on the brain reward center, a significant factor in addiction, by extending the effects of dopamine in the brain. While smokers will often say the use of nicotine relieves stress, studies have proven smoking actually increases stress due to the depletion of dopamine between cigarettes. Smokers record pleasure when the nicotine levels are reinstated and dopamine is once again released.rnGenetic Factor in Tobacco Abuse The genetic component of addiction to nicotine is widely known. As with other addictive behaviors, the genetic predisposition is seen in smokers and their families. Smokers are not different in this regard than other addicts. Side Effects of Tobacco The list of nicotine side effects is exhaustive, including the following: • Lightheadednessrn• Irritability and sleep problemsrn• Muscle painrn• Nausea, diarrhea and heartbu • Heart rate abnormalitiesrn• Insulin abnormalitiesrn• Increased blood pressure, coronary artery constriction Between the years 1998 and 2005, the nicotine content in available products increased. Since nicotine is the drug available in such products, the addiction potential as well as the desirability of the products to users and its harmful effects have also increased. Tobacco Dependence Dependence on nicotine based products is intimately linked to its action on the reward pathway and its potent activation of feelings of euphoria and pleasure. Nicotine not only increases the levels of dopamine in the brain but it also increases its duration of action. When nicotine is withdrawn, the dopamine receptors in the brain become more sensitive, unlike the withdrawal effects from other drugs. While nicotine in itself is not usually described as a carcinogen, its mode of use, namely cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco and others, have been established as potent cancer producing entities. However, it has been shown that nicotine itself has carcinogenic properties. Nicotine causes colon cancer through a direct effect on tumor growth. It increases tumor size and metastasis due to its revascularization activity. It gives the tumor what it needs to grow and spread. Tobacco and Pregnancy Another damaging effect of nicotine is the uptick of birth defects in babies born to mothers who smoked early in their pregnancy. The numbers are staggering and reach 60%. A correlation between ADHD in children born to mothers who smoke may be linked to nicotine’s potent effects. California has added nicotine to a list of chemicals that cause abnormal development. Death and Smoking The World Health Organization has estimated that smoking has caused more than 100 million deaths during the 20th century. The Centers for Disease Control has called tobacco use the most significant cause of preventable and premature death. The risk of death due to lung cancer before age 65 is 52 percent greater for men and 92 percent greater for women. The effects of smoking on non-smokers caused by secondhand smoke are staggering. Male smokers lose an average of about 13 years of life while woman who smoke lose 14 years. Known Diseases Caused by Tobacco Use • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) • Heart Attackrn• Peripheral Vascular Disease and Hypertensionrn• Lung and Mouth Cancerrn• Stomach and Pancreatic Cancerrn• Breast Cancerrn• Bladder Cancer Studies have shown that smokers are three times more likely to die between the ages of 60-70 years than their non-smoking counterparts. Another effect in woman has been a higher risk of fractures with age, particularly hip fractures. Nicotine Withdrawal Withdrawal from nicotine produces multiple effects including dry mouth, rapid heart beat and irritability. The onset is rapid and long term effects, such as depression, can linger for months. Craving, by most reports, does not diminish. In-patient treatment has been found to be beneficial to many smokers in offering an intense regimen to promote quitting. Smoking Prevalence Although many areas have increased the cost of cigarettes, it has done little to dissuade smokers. Over 1.2 billion people smoke worldwide and that number is expected to increase to 1.3 billion by 2025. The number of young smokers has increased mainly in underdeveloped nations. With the risk associated with smoking and the cost involved, particularly in an economically challenging time, the question of why the incidence of smoking continues must be raised. One factor is linked to the over $4 billion spent by the tobacco companies in advertising yearly. Promotional activities and specialty items that appeal to young smokers are used indiscriminately in advertisements promoting this activity. While not different from other advertising in terms of target audiences and mode of use, the harmful effects of smoking raise this to a new level. Now that the how and why is more clearly understood, smokers should have more incentive to make serious attempts at quitting.