Nicotine

nicotine is known as ____ drug in the world

the most widely abused

when we smoke, we inhale nicotine (true or false)

true

how did smoking get popular?

it became more prevalent among soldiers during the war since they were often really cheap of for free due to automation in production

what does nicotine do to our bodies?

nicotine not only raises our heart rate but also our blood pressure

is the first hit of nicotine pleasurable?

no

how likely is it that if you don’t start smoking by age 17 that you will smoke ever?

unlikely

smoking contributes to many deaths due to _____

lung cancer

what are the 3 main types of smokeless tobacco?

moist snuff, powder snuff, and loose-leaf

who does smokeless tobacco aim to target?

younger people

moist snuff

clay-like texture typically placed between the lower lip and gum

powder snuff

dry and typically inhaled

loose-leaf (aka. chewing tobacco)

shredded tobacco leaves placed between the cheek and gum or chewed to release the juice

why isn’t smokeless tobacco any safer than smoking?

smokeless tobacco is usually more addictive than smoking with a higher concentration of nicotine that is delivered into the blood fast, contributing to increased likelihood of addiction

types of cancers that smokeless tobacco can cause

esophageal, oral, and pharyngeal cancers

what do cigarette companies claim about their brand?

• it is “brand loyalty” —→ people don’t buy it because they are addicted. they buy it because they want to be adherent customers.

what is added into nicotine to make it even more addictive?

ammonium —→ this leads to the nicotine crossing the blood-brain barrier faster

freebase nicotine

the purest form of nicotine due to the added ammonium leading to the nicotine crossing the blood-brain barrier faster

where is freebase nicotine commonly found?

e-liquids aka. vapes

symptoms of nicotine withdrawal

in addition to:

• hunger

• headaches

• nervousness

• fatigue

• depression

• poor concentration

• cravings

effects of smoking on your body

1. atherosclerosis —→ increases the chance of heart attacks

2. restriction in blood vessels leading to a higher blood pressure, making one more susceptible to a stroke

3. bronchopulmonary diseases

treatments for nicotine addicition

• nicotine patches

• inhalers

• gum

• nasal spray

• lozenges (like cough drops)

how do treatments for nicotine addiction work?

reduces the nicotine level in blood

what are the initial and sustained success rates of treatments for nicotine addiction?

initial —→ 44%

sustained —→ 22-23%

what are some components to a vape/e-cigarette?

• nicotine (found in tobacco)

• formaldehyde (found in preserve dead tissue)

• nickel (found in cheap jewelry)

• toluene (found in paint thinner)

flavors of vapes

• menthol

• mint

• fruits like mango

• dessert/candy

• cinnamaldehyde

• banana and chocolate

menthol

a flavor that slows the breakdown of nicotine, soothes the throat, and reduces the amount of nitric oxide, possibly leading to cardiovascular issues

cinnamaldehyde

a flavor that decreases the immune function in lungs

banana and chocolate

a flavor that causes inflammation through the body leading to more immune cells attacking