- Cannabinoids
- Marijuana
- Effects Of Using Marijuana
- Marijuana’s Impact On Brain Cells
- Marijuana Detox
- Synthetic Marijuana
- Effects Of Using Synthetic Marijuana
- Cannabinoid Detox
- Hallucinogens
- Bath Salts
- Bath Salts Detox And Withdrawal
- DMT
- Effects Of DMT Use
- GHB
- Effects Of GHB Use
- GHB Addiction Treatment And Rehab
- Ketamine
- Effects Of Ketamine Use
- LSD
- LSD Detox And Withdrawal
- Mescaline
- Mescaline Detox And Withdrawal
- PCP
- Effects Of PCP Use
- Psilocybin Mushrooms
- Effects Of Psilocybin Mushroom Use
- Psilocybin Mushroom Detox And Withdrawal
- Salvia
- Effects Of Using Salvia
- Hallucinogen Detox
- Drug Addiction
- Stimulants
- Adderall
- Effects Of Adderall Use
- Adderall Detox
- Anabolic Steroids
- Effects Of Anabolic Steroid Use
- Cocaine
- Effects Of Cocaine Use
- Cocaine Detox
- Cocaine Addiction Treatment
- Caffeine
- Concerta
- Effects Of Concerta Use
- Concerta Detox
- Ritalin
- The Short And Long Term Effects Of Ritalin Use
- Crack Cocaine
- Effects And Symptoms Of Crack Cocaine Use
- Crack Cocaine Detox
- Dexedrine
- Effects Of Dexedrine Use
- Dexedrine Detox And Withdrawal
- Stimulant Detox
- Ecstasy
- Effects of Ecstasy (MDMA) Use
- Ecstasy Detox
- Ecstasy Addiction Treatment
- Meth
- Amphetamine Detox
- Shooting Meth: The Most Dangerous Methods Of Use
- Understanding The Effects Of Meth Use
- Meth Detox
- Drug Classifications
- Diet Pills
- Diet Pill Detox
- 10 Most Common Addictions
- The Top 10 Most Dangerous Drugs In The World
- Inhalants
- Effects Of Inhalants Abuse
- Inhalant Detox
- Addiction Statistics
- Antidepressants
- Antidepressant Detox
- Barbiturates
- Amytal
- Effects Of Amytal Use
- Amytal Detox And Withdrawal
- Barbiturate Detox
- Sleeping Pills
- Sonata
- Ambien
- The Effects Of Ambien Use And Addiction
- Ambien Detox
- Lunesta
- Effects of Using Lunesta
- Overdose
- Who Drug Addiction Affects
- Senior Addiction, Risk Factors, And Treatment
- College Drug Abuse
- First Responders, Drug Abuse, And Addiction
- Drug Abuse, Addiction, And Homelessness
- Teenage Drug Addiction
- The LGBTQ Community And Drug Addiction
- Veterans and Drug Addiction
- The 10 Most Addictive Substances On Earth
- Drug Street Names
- Gambling Addiction
- Porn Addiction
- Signs and Symptoms of Porn Addiction
- How Do I Find Help For Porn Addiction?
- Sex Addiction
- Social Media Addiction
- Sugar Addiction
- Video Game Abuse and Addiction: The Basics
- Drug Detox
What Is Nicotine?
Nicotine is a chemical that is naturally produced in different plants of the nightshade family. It is named after the tobacco plant Nicotiana Tabacum. It is used in several other products such as:
- Cigarettes
- E-cigarettes
- Chewing tobacco
- Nicotine patches
- Gum
- Inhalers
History Of Nicotine
Nicotine has been consumed through the act of smoking or inhaling the tobacco plant for over 2000 years. The practice of smoking tobacco in pipes and cigars quickly spread worldwide in the 1600s, and the tobacco industry boomed by the 1700s. It was not until 1828 that a doctor and chemist from Germany first isolated Nicotine from the tobacco plant. The isolation led to the identification of the compound as a poison and its use as an insecticide since 1763. Historically, Nicotine has not been found to be cancer-causing on its own, but it is highly addictive. It causes dependence, making it one of the most commonly used substances in the world. Tobacco products contain Nicotine, along with thousands of other deadly chemicals, making it responsible for the most common preventable cause of death in the US, which is smoking.
Need Addiction Support?
Help is available. Enter your phone number to receive a call from a treatment provider.
How The Body Processes It
When Nicotine is inhaled through tobacco smoke (or an electronic vaporizer), the chemical quickly enters the bloodstream, crosses the blood-brain barrier, and reaches the brain within 8 to 20 seconds. The body feels a “kick” or “buzz” from the effects. Nicotine is broken down in the liver, and about half of the chemical leaves the body approximately 2 hours after smoking. Tobacco products that are chewed, placed inside the mouth, or snorted tend to release more significant amounts of the drug in the body than smoking. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over one billion people worldwide are regular tobacco smokers, making cigarettes the most popular way of consuming Nicotine.
Nicotine affects each person differently depending on factors such as:
- Size, weight, and overall health
- The amount consumed
- The strength and amount of Nicotine contained in a product
- An individual’s tolerance
There is a common myth that “light” or “low tar” cigarettes are less harmful than regular cigarettes when in fact, there is little difference between the number of deleterious chemicals inhaled by people who smoke “light” cigarettes and regular ones.
The Effects
Nicotine can act as both a sedative and a stimulant, depending on a person’s nervous system and the amount consumed in a dose.
The following effects may be experienced:
- Mild stimulation
- Coughing
- Increased heart rate
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Numbness in fingers and toes
- Nausea, reduced appetite, and vomiting
- Bad breath
- Heartburn and indigestion
If consumed in vast quantities, the following effect may also occur:
- Fast or difficult breathing
- Feeling faint or confusion
- Respiratory arrest
- Seizures
People like to smoke tobacco and other Nicotine products because of the pleasurable effects caused by its interaction in the brain. This includes an increase in dopamine levels and euphoric feelings, raised alertness, reduced anxiety, and improved concentration.
Smoking cigarettes regularly can lead to long-term effects such as:
- Loss of taste and smell
- Shortness of breath
- Â Coughing fits, asthma, and lung disease
- Â Yellowing of the teeth and fingernails
- Â Stomach ulcers
- Â Heart disease
- Â Infertility
- Â Stroke and brain damage
- Â Erectile dysfunction
- Â Irregular periods or early menopause
- Â Mood swings
- Â Cancer (in many areas of the body)
- Â Insulin resistance (increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes)
- Â Financial, social, and work problems
There is no safe level of Nicotine consumption as it occurs in tobacco and other smoking-related products. Nicotine on its own has no therapeutic or medical benefit other than when it is administered in small doses during Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT).
Mixing Nicotine With Medication
If you are regularly taking any medication, it is essential to consult with a medical provider about Nicotine’s effect on them. Nicotine is known to reduce the effectiveness of Benzodiazepines. It can cause blood clots to form when taking birth control pills.
Withdrawal Symptoms
Regular Nicotine users tend to build up a tolerance, requiring higher doses to achieve the desired effects. If a person gives up the drug after using it for a long time, they may begin to feel withdrawal symptoms within 2 to 3 hours after the last use.
Withdrawal symptoms can last from a few days to a couple of weeks and include:
- Cravings
- Insomnia or restless sleep
- Headaches
- Irritability, depression, and anxiety
- Increased appetite or weight gain
- Difficulty concentrating
- Body aches and pains
- Gastrointestinal issues
Nicotine Addiction
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially recognized Nicotine as an addictive drug in 1994 and took control over federal Nicotine regulations in June of 2009. It is considered to be as hard to quit as Heroin. As of 2018, all products containing Nicotine, including e-cigarettes, must be labeled with a warning. Young people are at the highest risk for Nicotine addiction because their brains are still developing. Currently, more people die from smoking-related complications than all deaths due to HIV, motor vehicle accidents, murder, suicide, alcohol, and drug abuse combined. In the United States, over 16 million people are living with a disease caused by smoking and Nicotine addiction.
Treatment For Addiction
Roughly 70% of adult smokers say they want to quit, according to the FDA. No matter how much or how long a person has been smoking, quitting as soon as possible can dramatically decrease the risk of various cancers, heart disease, and other serious diseases. 12 hours after quitting smoking, the carbon monoxide level in the blood drops to normal, preventing severe organ damage.
Treatment for Nicotine dependence and addiction is also known as smoking cessation therapy. The goal is to reduce cravings and associated risks and health problems that result from the chemical combination in tobacco and smoking products. The most common way to treat smoking addiction and/or Nicotine dependence is through what is known as Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). NRT’s are products approved by the FDA designed to help smokers reduce their use by using specific amounts of Nicotine that gradually decrease over time. Over the counter NRT’s can only be sold to people age 18 and older and come in many different forms:
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
Skin patchesTransdermal Nicotine patches are placed on the skin, similar to applying an adhesive bandage.
Chewing gumNicotine gum is to be chewed according to label instructions to be effective.
LozengesNicotine lozenges are products that dissolve in the mouth, like a cough drop.
The only prescription NRT available at the current moment is a nasal spray and oral inhaler under the brand name Nicotrol. A person should talk to their health care providers before starting any form of NRT, especially if they:
- Have diabetes, heart disease, asthma, or stomach ulcer or a recent heart attack
- Have already been prescribed medication to quit smoking
- Â Are under the age of 18
- Â Are pregnant
Studies have shown that NRT is most effective when accompanied by community/peer support and mental health counseling. Something as simple as advice from a primary care physician or individual and group therapy can increase the success rate of quitting a Nicotine addiction.
Paid Advertising. We may receive advertising fees if you follow links to the BetterHelp site.
Online Addiction Counseling
Get professional help from an online addiction and mental health counselor from BetterHelp.
- Personalized Matching Process
- Easy Online Scheduling
- 30,000+ Licensed Therapists
Get Help Today
If you or someone you love is struggling to overcome an addiction to any drug, help is out there. Contact a dedicated treatment provider today to find out what your options are.
Start Your Recovery Today
Help is available. Explore your recovery options and break free from addiction.