Nicotine Addiction

General Overview

Nicotine, present in the tobacco leaf, is one of the main ingredients in tobacco. It is a central nervous system stimulant and is classified as a drug. Nicotine is what makes cigarettes addictive.

How nicotine works

• Nicotine causes chemical and biological changes in the brain. Although it is less dramatic than heroin or cocaine, the strength of the addiction is just as powerful. It is a “reinforcing” drug, which means that users desire the drug regardless of the damaging effects.
• The human body builds a tolerance to nicotine and the effect of the drug is reduced over time. As a result, regular smokers can inhale greater amounts of smoke and toxins without showing immediate effects (ie. coughing, nausea).
• Nicotine is considered addictive because it alters brain functioning and because people use it compulsively. Addiction to nicotine is not immediate – it may take weeks or months to develop.

Nicotine in the body

• Nicotine enters the brain within 10 seconds after inhaling cigarette smoke.
• This causes several physiological reactions:
  • Acute increase in heart rate and blood pressure
  • Constriction of blood vessels causing a temperature drop in the hands and feet
  • Brain waves are altered and muscles relax.
• Nicotine is extremely poisonous if consumed in large amounts. For this reason, new smokers might experience coughing, dizziness and a dry, irritated throat. Other effects may include nausea, weakness, abdominal cramps, headache, coughing or gagging. These symptoms abate as the user develops a tolerance to nicotine.

Levels of dependency

• Levels of dependency vary, but 80% of smokers have a cigarette every one to two hours throughout the day.
• A highly addicted smoker – smoking more than 25 cigarettes a day – ranks the first cigarette in the day as the most important, and will smoke within 30 minutes of waking up.

Withdrawal symptoms

• Nicotine addiction is a physical dependency. Withdrawal symptoms can be severe and many smokers might not be able to quit on their first attempt because of these symptoms, and a lack of preparation to cope with withdrawal.
• The most severe withdrawal symptoms occur within the first week although the craving for cigarettes can persist for months even years. The desire to smoke can be especially strong when a person is under stress although others crave cigarettes while socializing or when bored. The typical withdrawal symptoms are:
  • headaches
  • anxiety and irritability
  • difficulty concentrating and sleeping
  • hunger
  • decreased heart rate and blood pressure
  • craving for nicotine
• Other side effects such as fatigue and coughing are indications that the body is in a state of repair and is cleaning out the poisons associated with smoking.
• Your body uses food more slowly when you first stop smoking. You may eat more when you quit too, so there is a good chance you will gain weight. And, while the average weight gain is 5 pounds, not everyone gains weight when they quit smoking.

Benefits of quitting smoking

• Within 8 hours, the level of carbon monoxide in your body decreases and oxygen increases to normal levels.
• After just two days, the risk of heart attack begins to decrease.
• Within just 48 hours, your sense of smell and taste improve and return to normal.
• After three days, your lung capacity will have increased, making breathing easier.
• After the first year, the risk of heart attack is cut in half.
• Within 10 years, the risk of dying from lung cancer is cut in half
• Within 15 years, the risk of dying from a heart attack is equal to a person who never smoked.
• The health benefits of quitting occur for all types of smokers, men and women, young and old.
• Quitting smoking is the best thing smokers can do to improve their life and health. Former smokers live longer than those who continue to smoke.