Nicotine Abuse

Nicotine

Nicotine is an alkaloid found in the nightshade family of plants (Solanaceae), predominantly in tobacco and coca, and in lower quantities in tomato, potato, eggplant (aubergine), and green pepper. Nicotine has been found to constitute approximately 0.6-3% of dry weight of tobacco with biosynthesis taking place in the roots, and accumulating in the leaves. It functions as an Asntiherbivore chemical, being a potent neurotoxin with particular specificity to insects; therefore nicotine was widely used as an insecticide in the past, and currently nicotine derivatives such as Imidacloprid continue to be widely used. In low concentrations (an average cigarette yields about 1 mg of absorbed nicotine), the substance acts as a stimulant in mammals and is one of the main factors responsible for the dependence-forming properties of tobacco smoking. According to the American Heart Association, "Nicotine addiction has historically been one of the hardest addictions to break." The pharmacological and behavioural characteristics that determine tobacco addiction are similar to those that determine addiction to drugs such as heroin and cocaine.

Nicotine abuse

Nicotine is addictive - nine out of ten of smokers say they would like to stop but can't. Nicotine withdrawal symptoms include irritability, anxiety, loss of concentration and sleeplessness. Cigarette smoke contains a cocktail of other harmful substances, including carbon monoxide and tar. These substances cause heart and lung diseases as well as a third of all cancer deaths in the UK .

Nicotine

Nicotine is the substance in cigarettes that smokers become dependent on. Thus, nicotine dependence is essentially dependence on cigarettes. About 70% of smokers have acknowledged that they desire to quit smoking but are unable to do so. Of people who quit, 90% do so on their own, but only about 3 to 4% successfully quit in any given year.

Symptoms and Complications

Nicotine, when obtained through smoking, generally produces few noticeable effects. Some people experience flushing. Nicotine withdrawal may result in many unpleasant symptoms, including craving for nicotine, irritability, anxiety, poor concentration, restlessness, headaches, drowsiness, and stomach upset. Many people gain weight while trying to stop smoking. Withdrawal is most troublesome in severely dependent people.

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