6 Things to Know About Nicotine Addiction
Medically Reviewed By William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS
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Nicotine addiction is powerful, but can be prevented and stopped.Almost every smoker knows smoking is bad for your health. That is not a big secret. Still, people continue to smoke. The reason is nicotine. It is a very addictive drug. Addiction is being unable to stop doing something, even if you know it will harm you. The fact is most people who try to quit smoking start again, many of them within a week. Knowledge is a powerful weapon. For people trying to quit, it helps to know how addiction works—and ways to stop it. -
1. Nicotine changes your brain.Nicotine stimulates the pleasure centers of your brain. It does this by increasing the level of a chemical messenger in your brain called dopamine. Dopamine release may cause you to feel less stressed, more alert, and more relaxed. Within 10 seconds of inhaling tobacco smoke, nicotine floods your brain and causes release of dopamine. Over time, your brain starts to expect this extra dopamine. This brain change is addiction.
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2. Nicotine acts like other addictive drugs.Other addictive drugs, like cocaine and heroin, also act on dopamine. They stimulate the same pleasure centers and cause long-term brain changes that lead to addiction. One difference is the effects of heroin or cocaine last for hours. The peak effect of nicotine lasts for only seconds. That is why smokers need to take many puffs to keep getting their hit of nicotine. A pack-a-day smoker will take more than 200 hits of nicotine every day.
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3. Addiction causes physical withdrawal.Once your brain becomes addicted to nicotine, it does not like it when you stop smoking. Your brain will start to crave nicotine. These cravings can be hard to resist. Cravings can be triggered by activities you associate with smoking. Over a period of a few weeks after you stop, the cravings will lessen. Eventually they will go away. Other symptoms of nicotine withdrawal include irritability, anxiety and depression. You may have trouble concentrating and sleeping. The important thing to remember during this time is help is available. Talk with a doctor if you are suffering because prescription medicines can help relieve symptoms of withdrawal.
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4. Nicotine addiction is harmful.Pure nicotine is very toxic. It can cause vomiting, convulsions and death. The amount of nicotine you get from smoking or chewing tobacco can raise your blood pressure and your heart rate, but it is not deadly. The greater danger comes from the chemicals in tobacco and the gases from smoked tobacco. These toxins cause about a third of all cancers. They also cause chronic lung disease, heart disease and stroke.
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5. Nicotine replacement is safe.Nicotine itself does not cause cancer or other diseases. That means you can safely wean yourself off nicotine with a nicotine replacement treatment. You get small doses of nicotine through a gum or a patch. This eliminates the harmful tobacco substances. Nicotine replacement therapy makes nicotine withdrawal easier. Besides gum and patches, there are nicotine inhalers and nasal sprays. There are no known long-term or serious harmful effects from these treatments.
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6. Starting is easier than quitting.It's easy to get addicted to nicotine. Young people may be especially prone to becoming addicted. Studies show that addiction to nicotine in young smokers can occur from smoking just a few cigarettes in a month. Quitting smoking on your own can be tough. Most smokers need a few tries to quit the habit. If you're struggling, talk with your doctor. Replacement therapies and smoking cessation programs can help you kick your nicotine addiction.
6 Things to Know About Nicotine Addiction
