Why are people addicted to nicotine?

Answer 1

Many reasons motivate people to either start or to continue tobacco use despite the overwhelming evidence that it is harmful and even fatal. Most people begin smoking at a very young age, between 10-18 years old. For this age bracket, in addition to the use of nicotine for fun, or for boredom and stress relief, other reasons exist. Social reinforcements such as peer pressure, desire for acceptance, and curiosity are major motivational factors for experimentation. Tobacco use becomes an attribute of maturity or sexual desirability. Most of these different social motivations return to one desire effect: to look good, to look "cool". In addition, it is here that the idea of nicotine as a means for weight control comes in to play. Nicotine acts as a mild stimulant to the central nervous system. Behind the idea of nicotine and other stimulants are the physiological responses, which include constricting blood vessels, increasing heart rate and blood pressure, and thus decimating appetite. (Fielding, 1992)

Many people, especially young women, are severely emotionally affected by society's portrayal of the ideal body image solely encourages its people to strive for perfection, (a perfection which is virtually unattainable), through magazine pictures and advertisements of models who are not even real themselves. Many pictures have been altered and doctored by such photographic techniques as airbrushing, or lens manipulation. Therefore, in light of the fact that nicotine acts as a mild stimulant, many believe it will help them to attain this ideal body image and keep the weight down. Oral fixation reinforces this idea in users, who instead of eating when they are hungry; they simply reach for a cigarette instead. "Factors interact with stimuli in the social environment -social rein forcers- so that after thousands of repetitions of tobacco use, they become inseparable from the substance. This phenomenon is reinforced and exploited by the Tobacco industry's advertisements for its products. According to the American Cancer Society, it is an industry that spends around $6 billion dollars a year on advertisements that depict its products as exciting, glamorous, and healthy activity.

Answer 2

Nicotine activates the pleasure center in the brain by increasing levels of dopamine in the reward circuits. This is similar to the effect of other drugs of abuse.

Smoking cigarettes causes a rapid buildup of nicotine in the brain -- within 10 seconds -- but the effects do not last long. This causes the addicted smoker to continue dosing to keep the pleasurable effects and prevent the discomfort of withdrawal. Long-term changes in the brain occur with chronic smoking, causing the person to need to continue smoking in order to function more or less normally, and resulting in addiction.

Answer 3

Most people are addicted with nicotine because it goes straight to the brain. I don't know how...

If you do some research, you should get the answer. The anti smoking products have a tiny bit of nicotine in them so the smokers will eventually ease off the cigarettes.

Answer 4

Nicotine is a stimulant which increases certain chemicals within the brain. Notably, dopamine is increased when nicotine is consumed and it is believed to play a large role in the rewarding effects of nicotine use. When nicotine begins to drop in the body, a desire for nicotine (known as a craving) begins.

Nicotine is most commonly found in tobacco cigarettes. It's an addictive substance that is hard to stop using. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), nicotine alters our brains and makes us crave it even more.

Identification

When people smoke cigarettes, the nicotine alters brain chemistry, making the smoker feel good. The smoker then craves that good feeling when the nicotine wears off, prompting them to smoke more.

Significance

According to the American Heart Association, a 1998 Surgeon General's report stated that nicotine addiction causes the body to act in a similar manner as a heroin or cocaine addiction.

Time Frame

According to the AHA, the feeling from nicotine lasts for two hours. After that period expires, people will crave another cigarette.

Potential

People who try to quit smoking cigarettes will most likely experience severe symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. Symptoms include anxiety, depression, irritability and weight gain.

Warning

Smoking is extremely bad for one's health. Not only does it cause lung cancer, but it also is a major cause of Heart disease. If you are addicted to smoking cigarettes, talk to your doctor about the best way to quit.