Tobacco addiction - not just the nicotine.....

[SmokeyJoe]

Following from Kate's earlier thread, here is an interview with the scientists at the UPMC (Paris university) who have been researching the addictive nature of tobacco smoke, and it's relation to nicotine.

Hat tip: jmcclimo2003

Some highlights:

we have succeeded in showing [nicotine's] strong addictive effects by associating it with certain compounds present in tobacco smoke. In addition, we believe we have demonstrated why nicotine alone is insufficient and by which mechanisms these two products work together to give tobacco its addictive power.

and

Now that we have identified the role of the 5-HT1A receptor in the development of tobacco dependence, we can hope for more precise treatments. It is interesting to note that the effectiveness of patches is greatly increased when doctors combine them with an antidepressive treatment. Well, all antidepressants have the property of increasing serotonin levels and desensitizing the 5-HT1A receptors. So as long as the receptor is inactivated, nicotine is able to provide relief for an abstinent smoker. It can be assumed that combining nicotine with a molecule which targets this receptor more precisely will allow more positive results.

Read it all here: Nicotine and Dependence - upmc

[Kitabz]

Nice article although this last few sentences are a bit depressing:

The best thing would be to find out how to reverse the long-term neuronal adaptations brought on by taking the drug repeatedly, without necessarily trying to maintain the imbalance with a substitution strategy. But we are not there yet. Until now, we have succeeded in blocking dependence in animals but everything suggests that once established, it is irreversible.

[Nick O'Teen]

Nice article although this last few sentences are a bit depressing:

Well, looking on the bright side, it might add some impetus to devloping e-liquid formulations that are even more satisfying. If they can isolate this "molecule which targets this" [5-HT1A receptor], and they're convinced that our addictions are "irreversible" lost causes anyway, then the argument to provide a total replacement for the "whole buzz" of smoked tobacco is fairly overwhelming, isn't it?

I say bring it on!

[LuckySevens4U]

Well I knew there was other stuff in that tobacco that we are addicted to when I first started vaping because I would still crave an analog. I'm pretty much over that now I think, but it's more than obvious it's more than nicotine. HOWEVER, with that said, look how MANY of us are off analogs because of vaping with only nicotine and not on any anti depressants or any other drugs. I'm still amazed that I have been able to do this. I made up my mind I was going to do it, but it truly has been much easier than I thought having the vaporizer.

[Caesarea]

Well I knew there was other stuff in that tobacco that we are addicted to when I first started vaping because I would still crave an analog. I'm pretty much over that now I think, but it's more than obvious it's more than nicotine. HOWEVER, with that said, look how MANY of us are off analogs because of vaping with only nicotine and not on any anti depressants or any other drugs. I'm still amazed that I have been able to do this. I made up my mind I was going to do it, but it truly has been much easier than I thought having the vaporizer.

Yes, I can't say I had an uneasy moment, and didn't even intend to give up, so what's with the serotonin levels? Joie de vivre??

[Nick O'Teen]

Well I knew there was other stuff in that tobacco that we are addicted to when I first started vaping because I would still crave an analog. I'm pretty much over that now I think, but it's more than obvious it's more than nicotine. HOWEVER, with that said, look how MANY of us are off analogs because of vaping with only nicotine and not on any anti depressants or any other drugs. I'm still amazed that I have been able to do this. I made up my mind I was going to do it, but it truly has been much easier than I thought having the vaporizer.

That's very true - it's like changing cigarette brands (okay, maybe a little bit more of a jump than that,) - it takes a little while to get into a new habit. Whether or not it's an urban myth that manufacturers lace their cigs with addictive chemicals to promote brand loyalty, there are other factors than nicotine - but there's nothing else in tobacco that's more addictive than the nicotine, I'm sure of that.

Certainly I see more people here successfully giving up smoking tobacco than I could have imagined was possible, from what I've seen of conventional NRT (not that I'm any expert - I enthusiastically cultivate my addiction.) Not just a handful, but what looks like a majority of those are trying - something's doing the job (where, frankly, all else has failed,) that's for sure!

[katink]

Interesting read Joe!

Now this gets me wondering, what it is about e-cigs that gets so many to change without much trouble from tobacco to e-cigs. Do all. or most, liquids contain acetyldehyde? Could it be, that the 'instant-converts' are more sweet-teeth then those that are having trouble to convert fully (meaning they have enough sugar in them to react with the nicotine in some manner perhaps)? Or something else completely? The number of instant converts is just too big, I think, to explain that away with 'placebo'... so then there must indeed be more to the e-cig then discerned so far (with that 'something' still missing out for some though).
Interesting... and I would like to see this group react to the success-figures the e-cig is having, to hear their possible explanation, too.

[Nuck]

What an interesting article and it seems to back what so many posts on the forums seem to suggest. It also explains why, personally, I have not experienced any signs of addiction to vaping (outside of just being really enjoyable).

I wonder how some of the longer term vapers who have been off analogs for months would do on lower or zero nic juice.

[TropicalBob]

That's a sobering article. Thanks for posting the link.

We've speculated on this forum about "what is missing" for many of us e-smokers, myself included. E-cigs do not replicate cigarette smoking for me. Cravings remain. I resort to other methods to quiet the cravings.

The MAOI problem is real, and I'll have an effective alternative only when other, non-carcinogenic, components in tobacco smoke are added with nicotine in an inhalable vapor form. That's the e-liquid I need.

I have read before that those specialized receptors in the brain will always remain. The blunt truth is that an ex-smoker's brain will never return to that of a never-smoker. Cravings are forever.

[paladinx]

Tropical bob

what would you say works the best at trying to quit smoking if you had to choose one. Dip/snus, or e-smoking. I know you use both, but if you were only allowed one, what would satisfy you the most?

regards