Who Is Most Likely To Become Addicted
Anyone who starts using tobacco can become addicted to nicotine. Studies show that smoking is most likely to become a habit during the teen years. The younger you are when you begin to smoke, the more likely you are to become addicted to nicotine.
According to the 2014 Surgeon Generals Report ,;nearly 9 out of 10 adults who smoke started before age 18, and nearly all started by age 26. The report estimates that about 3 out of 4 high school students who smoke will become adults who smoke even if they intend to quit in a few years.
Should You Avoid Using Nrts
Even though nicotine replacement therapies have the potential for addiction, they are an effective way to quit smoking. Always use caution, however, and follow your doctor’s and the manufacturer’s instructions.
All forms of NRT except for the nicotine patch are easy to misuse because you take a dose multiple times a day. The patch is the only NRT that is applied once in the morning and offers time-released nicotine throughout the day.;
Talk to your doctor about your options and weigh the potential pros and cons of each option before you decide which one is right for your needs. Your doctor may recommend the patch on its own or a combination, such as a patch and a lozenge or gum as nicotine replacement therapy.;
Research suggests that an approach that combines passive nicotine delivery with an as-needed NRT improves quit rates by 34% to 54% over the patch alone. The patch provides a steady concentration of nicotine while gum, lozenges, and other single-dose NRTs can help with break-through cravings.
NRTs have helped many thousands of smokers stop smoking successfully. Just remember that they are not intended for long-term use. Follow the manufacturer’s directions exactly, and wean yourself off the NRT product of your choice in the time period suggested.
Will Smoking Or Using Tobacco Products Containing Nicotine Hurt My Baby
Nicotine can cross the placenta when a pregnant woman uses tobacco products. This can negatively impact the baby, including, but not limited to: premature labor; low birth weight; respiratory failure at birth; and even sudden infant death syndrome .3, 8, 9, 10;
Women who use tobacco products can have unique health complications that affect them, their reproductive health, and their pregnancies. If youre a woman who uses tobacco products, consult your doctor and learn more about how you can quit smoking.;
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Physical Changes Caused By Nicotine
Nicotine can also cause physical changes in the brain, some temporary, and others that some researchers, like Picciotto, worry could be long-lasting.;
But animal studies show nicotine also can cause issues with brain function, leading to problems with focus, memory, and learningand these may be long-lasting. In animals, nicotine can cause a developing brain to have an increased number of connections between cells in the cerebral cortex region, says Picciotto. If this is also true for humans, the increased connections would interfere with a persons cognitive abilities, Picciotto says.;
To illustrate how this might work, Picciotto gives an example. A student sitting in a noisy classroom, with traffic passing by the window, needs to be able to focus her attention away from the distracting sounds so she can understand what the teacher says. Brains not exposed to nicotine learn to decrease connections, and refinement within the brain can happen efficiently, Picciotto says. But when you flood the system with nicotine, this refinement doesnt happen as efficiently.;
Theres hope that the current vaping epidemic wont lead to major health problems like lung cancer or pulmonary disease, Picciotto says. But we may still see an epidemic of cognitive function problems and attention problems. The changes made in the brain could persist.;
Vaping Vs Regular Cigarettes
Weighing the pros and cons of vaping versus smoking is difficult to do. On the one hand, e-cigarettes likely do not produce 7,000 chemicalssome of which cause cancerwhen they are activated, like regular combustible cigarettes do. However, the aerosol from a vape device has not been proven safe. Studies have found that it contains lead and volatile organic compounds, some of which are linked to cancer. Researchers are still gathering data on the possible long-term health effects from vaping. Its notable that e-cigarettes have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as smoking cessation devices. However, e-cigarettes may be a better choice for adult smokers if they completely replace smoking, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .;
But where nicotine levels are concerned, a newer and popular type of vape device, called a pod mod, outcompetes many other e-cigarette devices. The form of nicotine in these pods is estimated to be 2 to 10 times more concentrated than most free-base nicotine found in other vape liquids. A single pod from one vape manufacturer contains 0.7 mL of nicotine, which is about the same as 20 regular cigarettes.
Despite its extremely addictive nature, people can successfully quit using nicotine with personalized approaches, especially under the guidance of physicians who understand addiction.;
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Strategies To Help Taper Off The Nicotine Gum Or Lozenge
Defining Nicotine Addiction As Loss Of Autonomy
As the brief review above shows, many of the studies in the “hooked on nicotine” research program claim that adolescents can lose autonomy over their smoking behavior following a single puff from a cigarette and even following only second-hand exposure to cigarettes . As this is the principal claim of this research program, we begin by describing the development of its conceptual and methodological tradition.
The first in the “hooked on nicotine” series of studies concluded that “The first symptoms of nicotine dependence can appear within days to weeks of the onset of occasional use, often before the onset of daily smoking” . This was the first publication from the Development and Assessment of Nicotine Dependence in Youth study. The theoretical and methodological approach was the same one that would be used in later studies by this group: “Since the DSM-IV definition of nicotine dependence does not allow for the possibility that dependence might start before “prolonged heavy use”, the DSM-IV criteria were not used in this study. Accordingly, subjects were not diagnosed as being nicotine dependent, or experiencing a “withdrawal syndrome” according to DSM-IV criteria. Rather, we report only on whether subjects report any individual symptoms that are associated with dependence” .
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What About Nicotine In Other Tobacco Products
Nicotine in cigars
People who inhale cigar smoke absorb nicotine through their lungs as quickly as people who smoke cigarettes. For those who dont inhale, the nicotine is absorbed more slowly through the lining of the mouth. This means people who smoke cigars can get the desired dose of nicotine without inhaling the smoke directly into their lungs.
Most full-size cigars have as much nicotine as several cigarettes. Cigarettes contain an average of about 8 milligrams of nicotine, but only deliver about 1 to 2 mg of nicotine. Many popular brands of larger cigars have between 100 and 200 mg, or even as many as 444 mg of nicotine. The amount of nicotine a cigar delivers to a person who smokes;can vary a great deal, even among people smoking the same type of cigar. How much nicotine is taken in depends on things like:
- How long the person smokes the cigar
- How many puffs are taken
- Whether the smoke is inhaled
Given these factors and the large range of cigar sizes, its almost impossible to make good estimates of the amounts of nicotine larger cigars deliver.
Small cigars that are the size and shape of cigarettes have about the same amount of nicotine as a cigarette. If these are smoked like cigarettes , they would be expected to deliver a similar amount of nicotine 1 to 2 mg.
Nicotine in smokeless tobacco
Smokeless tobacco delivers a high dose of nicotine. Nicotine enters the bloodstream from the mouth or nose and is carried to every part of your body.
Nicotine in e-cigarettes
Why Do People Start Smoking
Most people who smoke started smoking when they were teenagers. Those who have friends and/or parents who smoke are more likely to start smoking than those who dont. Some teenagers say that they just wanted to try it, or they thought it was cool to smoke.
The tobacco industrys ads, price breaks, and other promotions for its products are a big influence in our society. The tobacco industry spends billions of dollars each year to create and market ads that show smoking as exciting, glamorous, and safe. Tobacco use is also shown in video games, online, and on TV. And movies showing people smoking are another big influence. Studies show that young people who see smoking in movies are more likely to start smoking.
A newer influence on tobacco use is the e-cigarette and other high-tech, fashionable electronic vaping devices. Often wrongly seen as harmless, and easier to get and use than traditional tobacco products, these devices are a way for new users to learn how to inhale and become addicted to nicotine, which can prepare them for smoking.
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What Is Samhsas National Helpline
SAMHSAs National Helpline, , or TTY: is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. Callers can also order free publications and other information.
Also visit the online treatment locators.
Is It Possible To Get Addicted To The Nicotine Gum Or Lozenge
Yes! It happens. Quitters sometimes become addicted to the nicotine gum or lozenge. Nicotine is the insanely addictive substance thats naturally in tobacco. Its the key reason why tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, and anything that contains nicotine is so addictive. Nicotine is one of the most addictive drugs on the planet.
The goal in using nicotine replacement products is to help you quit tobacco. I wrote about the purpose of using these products in greater detail here: What Is The Purpose Of Nicotine Replacement Therapy?;Its not super common but sometimes Quitters find it hard, in particular, to stop using the nicotine gum or nicotine lozenge after theyve quit tobacco. Some Quitters develop a reliance on these quit smoking medications and find it hard to stop using them.
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Why Is Nicotine So Addictive
After nicotine is absorbed into the bloodstream, it makes its way to the brain. Within seconds of inhaling cigarette smoke or vape mist, or using chewing tobacco, nicotine causes the release of dopamine in the brain, which gives people a good feeling. Over time, the brain begins to crave that feeling from nicotine and people need to use more and more tobacco to get that same good feeling.
Nicotine can also give some users a surge of energy or focus, because nicotine reacts with the adrenal glands to release adrenaline into the body.
Your Personal Stop Smoking Plan
While some smokers successfully quit by going cold turkey, most people do better with a tailored plan to keep themselves on track. A good quit plan addresses both the short-term challenge of stopping smoking and the long-term challenge of preventing relapse. It should also be tailored to your specific needs and smoking habits.
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Coping With Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms
Once you stop smoking, youll likely experience a number of physical symptoms as your body withdraws from nicotine. Nicotine withdrawal begins quickly, usually starting within an hour of the last cigarette and peaking two to three days later. Withdrawal symptoms can last for a few days to several weeks and differ from person to person.
Causes Of Nicotine Addiction
Smoking cigarettes or using other tobacco products causes nicotine addiction. Nicotine is very addictive, so even infrequent use can lead to dependence.
Its possible for smoking cessation products, such as nicotine gum, lozenges, or patches, to cause nicotine addiction. However, the risk is low. This is because the amount of nicotine in these products is lower and delivered more slowly than the nicotine in tobacco.
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How To Break Nicotine Gum Addiction
This article was medically reviewed by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS. Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support , Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support , Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Tennessee in 2006.There are 16 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 40,889 times.
Nicotine use, including smoking, smokeless tobacco and inhaled e-cigarettes, is one of the most prominent causes of health-related anomalies and disease. Smoking/nicotine cessation is a preventative measure to reduce burden of disease as well as prevent cancer, lung disease, heart disease, vascular complications, stroke, and numerous other health complications. Nicotine gums like Nicorette or Nicoderm are smoking-cessation aids. They’re designed to wean smokers off cigarettes by giving them a low dose of nicotine, without the carcinogens of tobacco. Unfortunately, some people kick one habit for another and become addicted to this gum. Be brave if you want to break your chewing habit combat the cravings, seek support, and know the risks of long-term use.
Biased Coding And Interpretation Of The Data
In addition to the methodological flaws noted above, several of the studies we reviewed were marred by biased coding and interpretation of the data. For example, Okoli et al. examined the relationship between self-reported physical and mental addiction to tobacco and perceived susceptibility to smoke in the future. Participants were asked how physically addicted and how mentally addicted to tobacco they were right now. Responses were rated on 10-point scales with 0 = “not at all addicted” and 10 = “very addicted.” However, because of the severely positively skewed distributions of these addiction measures, “and for ease of conceptual interpretation, individuals selecting “0” were coded as ‘0 = no’ and individuals selecting greater than “0” were coded as ‘1 = yes’.” Thus, a respondent who rated his level of dependence as “1” on a scale of 0-10 was categorized as perceiving himself as addicted to tobacco, which is a rather distorted interpretation of this response.
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Employing Lenient Criteria For Dependence
As noted earlier, most studies in the “hooked on nicotine” research program . Third, endorsement of a single symptom can be unreliable and may reflect measurement error or other extraneous influences” . According to Hughes and Shiffman , “classifying smokers as ”hooked” on the basis of endorsing a single marker of dependence is misleading in that it overdiagnoses and ignores further development of the severity of dependence” .
One exception to the problematic approach of registering “loss of autonomy” based on endorsement of any one of the HONC items was a study by DiFranza et al. . As mentioned above, this prospective study of 217 six-grade students from Massachusetts who have ever inhaled on a cigarette reported that 83 of these “inhalers” developed ICD-10-defined tobacco dependence. Half of the participants met ICD-10 criteria by the time they were smoking only 46 cigarettes per month and 25% were nicotine dependent when they were smoking only 8 or fewer cigarettes per month and tobacco dependence as defined by the ICD-10 was diagnosed as early as 13 days after the first inhalation.
What Does Nicotine Addiction Look Like
Nicotine addiction can look different from person to person. Even if you only use tobacco once in a while, you can be addicted and can have a hard time quitting.
Some signs of nicotine addiction include:
- Cravings, or feeling like you really need to use tobacco.
- Going out of your way to get tobacco.
- Feeling anxious or irritable if you want to use tobacco but cant.
- Continuing to use tobacco because you find it hard to stop.
When youre addicted to nicotine, you may experience symptoms of nicotine withdrawal after you stop using tobacco. Craving cigarettes, feeling sad or irritable, or having trouble sleeping are some common symptoms of withdrawal. These symptoms are usually strongest in the first week after quitting, but they are only temporary.
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