Adrian Alston
Nov 2 · 5 min read

Tobacco and Nicotine Addiction

How does the human mind work?

Addiction is a treatable condition of being addicted to an activity or item. The human brain is one of the most complex muscles of in the human body. The human brain works just like a machine and has the capability to adapt to virtually any circumstances known to man. It processes precise information that it receives from the body and senses. Then it sends signals back to the body. However, just like machines, there is a chance that the human mind may become damaged or corrupted and need special attention. This is where addictions come in to play. Many people don’t notice their own addictions until another person acknowledges the repeated process that serves no purpose.

Tobacco is introduced in a very compulsive way. In fact, there has not been a tobacco commercial televised since the 1970’s. Yet, tobacco is introduced to teenagers at a very early age. Genetic factors also play a key part in the introduction. Studies show that dependents of tobacco users significantly increase the urge of the dependents to try tobacco products that those who did not have parental tobacco users. In today’s world, teenagers smoking cigarettes and using chewing tobacco is a form of being ‘cool’ and a way to ‘fit in’.

How Is Nicotine Addictive?

The number one, and most deadly addiction in the country to is Nicotine. Nicotine is found in a variety of tobacco products, such as cigarettes and chewing tobacco. Tobacco products kill millions of people each year, yet people still use tobacco products. The effects of tobacco use, to this day, are advertised on television, newspapers, magazine, television, social media, and radio. Nicotine makes cigarettes highly addictive. The reason for this abnormal situation is because of the key addictive ingredient known as nicotine. Nicotine is one of the most addictive drugs on Earth.

Nicotine makes cigarettes highly addictive. Millionaires, billionaires, and middle-class citizens deal with fatigue and stress daily. Many people resort to coffee and energy drinks to combat the fatigue, but coffee does not relieve the stress. Therefore, the last resort is cigarettes. Nicotine in the cigarettes causes an increase of a natural drug found in the human body called dopamine. Dopamine basically helps regulate movement in the body, helps human maintain attention, increases learning capabilities, and calibrate emotion responses. Before smoking cigarettes, the body is more than capable of performing these tasks. After the addict smokes a cigarette, the dopamine in the human body increases. Fatigue is then reduced significantly because the nicotine causes an “adrenaline” rush once it hits the bloodstream in the body. Then, the stress level is lowered due to the dopamine stimulates the brain, helping the body “relax”. Normally, it only takes a few cigarettes before a person becomes addicted.

Chewing tobacco is perceived as a safer way to use tobacco. Chewing tobacco is just as bad as cigarettes. Instead of inhaling, chewing tobacco is used orally. It can be chewed or sucked on but cannot be swallowed. If swallowed, the chemicals in the tobacco may irritate the throat and/or the inner lining of the stomach, causing nausea and an upset stomach. Nicotine is still introduced the same way as cigarettes, increasing the natural dopamine level. Nicotine is absorbed through the soft tissues of the inside of the mouth. However, chewing tobacco can possibly leave even more visible damaging long-term effects than cigarettes.

The Consequences?

Excessive use of tobacco and nicotine will leave short-term, long-term, and life-threatening effects. The chances of the effects are based on the rate of usage and genetics. Short term effects include bad breath, canker sores, coughing, shortness of breath, and decaying teeth. Long term effects are much more unforgiving such as brain damage, lung cancer, stomach cancer, throat cancer, oral cancer, and asthma. Accidentally swallowing chewing tobacco increases the chance of stomach cancer. Once the damage is done, there is no point of return. The long-term effects can and will affect the years to come.

Smoking cigarettes around others also risk severe long-term and short-term effects, especially around infants and young children. This is known as secondhand smoking. Children are in risk of ear infections, respiratory problems, and instant death. Adults are in risk of strokes, heart disease, and lung cancer. Secondhand smoke effects for the adults aren’t as terrible as the smoker, but the results are still devastating. Secondhand smoke is also the main reason why some states does not allow smoking in bars and restaurants.

Tobacco products are not cheap. Users can expect to spend a few thousand dollars a year, depending on the usage. To the average person, that is a hefty chunk of money to spend on a low salary income. In the long run, the financial loss will in fact cause more stress on the mind. The urge to work more hours to compensate for the tobacco will cause more fatigue to the body. This repeated process will increase the urge to use more tobacco to compensate for the excessive stress and fatigue. The process is an entire giant loop hole that many addicts have been circling for decades.

The Recovery Process

If the human brain stops receiving the nicotine, the body starts going through withdrawals. Withdrawals can vary from cravings to nausea. Like any withdrawal the first week is the worst of the process. Training the mind and body to stop using tobacco process is a tough road. It requires dedication, discipline, and attention. Some may seek professional help and join therapy and programs to assist in the recovery. Medication that contains safe dosage of nicotine and the use of nicotine gum have been found to help the lengthy users of tobacco. Not every remedy helps the same people because everyone is unique in their own way. For light users, some remedies also include eating fruit, regular chewing gum, yoga, and exercising. Changing of habits to distract the human mind is possible and effective if the body is not heavily addicted to the nicotine.

Addiction is around a terrible habit to pick up. Tobacco and nicotine have been killing people for decades, not to mention affecting the environment that should be treated delicately. Tobacco products contaminates the soil, animals, and sources of water if not disposed of carefully.

Sources:

- Netherland, Julie. Critical Perspectives on Addiction. Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2012. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=527217&site=ehost-live

- Majmundar, Malay Kiran, et al. Understanding the U.S. Illicit Tobacco Market: : Characteristics, Policy Context, and Lessons From International Experiences. National Academies Press, 2015. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=991092&site=ehost-live.

- Pokorny, Steven B., and Leonard Jason. Preventing Youth Access to Tobacco. Routledge, 2014. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=782921&site=ehost-live.

- Di Giovanni, Giuseppe. Nicotine Addiction: Prevention, Health Effects and Treatment Options. Nova Biomedical, 2012. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=541178&site=ehost-live.

- Frenk, Hanan, and Reuven Dar. A Critique of Nicotine Addiction. Springer, 2000. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=73372&site=ehost-live.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade