What is the main reason that tobacco is so addictive?

Answer 1

If you're asking what the name of the chemical active in tobacco, which gives the rush and euphoria, its called Nicotine.

To understand why it is hard to quit smoking, you have to understand how it works. Tobacco is usually smoked, so we'll look at that method.

First, the smoke enters your lungs. The smoke is absorbed into the bloodstream, through the heart, and into the brain within a matter of seconds. Once inside the brain, it activates a chemical response which triggers the release of dopamine and endogenous morphine (Endorphins). These chemicals are responsible for the euphoria and general feeling of calmness and reduction of stress. Dopamine is the brain's key chemical in the reward system; it is released with endorphins after eating (especially foods high in sugar), sex, exercise, and accomplishment.

Once nicotine becomes an everyday supplement, the brain begins to slow the production of endorphins. This is because the brain now believes that nicotine is a superior substitute to generating its own, so you are now required to intake nicotine to release a normal amount of endorphins.

Since the levels of dopamine were being altered, the brain also slows down the transmission of dopamine via synapses. In combination with low endorphin count, you cannot function normally (at least happily). You begin to notice that you cannot enjoy the things that you used to love beforehand as much.

The effects of nicotine withdrawal are decreased motivation, pleasure, concentration (dopamine levels), irritability, depression (serotonin levels), intense cravings (low levels of dopamine and endorphins).

Once you are hooked on nicotine, you basically have a disabled natural rewards system; the only reward system is in the cigarette/snuff/whatever. A fine taper of nicotine (gradually lowering the dose) can help slowly balance the chemicals in the brain.

Another reason is simply because it is a social event. You see people smoking, you have to smoke. You talk to them, you're friendly, etc because of the surge of endorphins.

My interesting idea for why we smoke when we do (after eating, work, sex, etc) is because those are natural times when brain chemicals are released; accomplishment. Since the brain doesn't produce much of its own anymore, the tobacco must provide it. It sends signals of epinephrine (adrenaline), which is the jitteryness or strange feeling in the heart when you are craving a cigarette.

I've been hooked for a long time now. It costs more to quit than it is to smoke. Patches are at least $200 for the complete kit (week 1, 2, 3, etc). Plus the long-term success rate of patches are relatively low; something like 70% of former smokers relapsed within a year of quitting on patches.

*I wrote too much.

Answer 2

Because nicotine is a drug.