Research Suggests That Cigarettes' Power May Not Be In Nicotine Itself

[syntaxevasion]

Something missing eh? Well, we can examine the additives in cigarettes for a start.

acetaldehyde is a drug that can naturally occur from the burning of sugars (such as those found in tobacco). It is also added to many brands of cigarettes. This chemical works in a synergistic manner with nicotine to provide even more pleasure reinforcement.

If I recall correctly, in addition to cigarette addiction, this chemical lends a major component of alcoholism due to its quality of combining with certain neurotransmitters to form an opiate-analogous compound. So, in addition to your nicotine addiction, your brain is also getting some of its opiate receptors manhandled. I don't believe NRT products offer quite this degree of satisfaction.

I just found a great page on additives which affirms the acetaldehyde link. I'm sure there's more to it than that, however. Really some interesting information if you're in a sciencey mood.
Additives in tobacco products


Ben

[jigtg]

Ruyan cartridge paper mentions a very small amount of acetaldehyde. Guessing there is some naturally in tobacco so they cannot really get rid of it all.

Couple interesting papers:
http://www.nhc.com.sg/NR/rdonlyres/F...eAddiction.pdf
http://www.jdentaled.org/cgi/reprint/66/9/1061.pdf
Both by googling for 'nicotine "blind study"'. First one has a good summary on nicotine addiction. In particular:

The potential for abuse or addiction to a drug
is generally determined by the magnitude of the posi-
tive reinforcing effects and the speed of drug deliv-
ery to the brain.18 Typically, the relationship between
drug dose and the reinforcing effect of the drug is
characterized by an inverted U-shaped curve.15,18
Administration of an addictive drug will increase
until its toxicity reduces the overall desirable effects
and therefore decreases its reinforcing effects.
Generally, the more quickly the drug is delivered to
the brain, the greater the potential for abuse.23

[Silk]

Originally Posted by jigtg

Ruyan cartridge paper mentions a very small amount of acetaldehyde. Guessing there is some naturally in tobacco so they cannot really get rid of it all.

It could also be part of the paper manufacturing process, or even a left over remnant from the original tree/wood. Sap is a sugar, and some of that helps the process in binding the fibres to make the paper.
acetaldehyde is a scary name for what is basically burning sugar. I am not dismissing additives in the paper - we know cig manufactures have put as much science into papers and filters as they have tobacco. But I think you would probably find some traces of sugars in any paper. I know we ain't burning, but we are heating to the point of vapour, and on occaision burn accidently too.

As for additives being more addictive than the nicotene itself. I couldn't agree more. Like Bob I am not just a smoker, 'I loved it' I loved trying new brands, different pipes, tobaccos, cigars ad infinitum. I also smoke a peace pipe, to which I only add pure tobacco, and by that I mean from the leaf itself, and has been no-where near any process, other than growing, picking, twisting and drying.

Now one thing I really noticed when I have smoked that is that even though it could be burning for an hour (it is a big pipe) I would still want a cigarette as soon as I have finished. I have also noticed this with Cigars, Pipes, and some rollup brands (particuarly those that do not have any additives and are prone to drying out or going off because of this).

I have not smoked tobacco or cigs with additives for some time now, and it was hard going to start, initialy sending my smoking rate through the roof. (It was still not good prior to the arrival of my e-cigar). But it did stabalise a bit and one thing I did notice is I cannot now smoke a normal cigarette - I have on occaision filched one when short, and found they taste and smell vile, they make me feel instantly congested, but the kick is tremendous, as is the desire to have another! So what is it that makes me want to smoke something that is even disgusting to me?

Now, unlike many others, I have been lucky in that my lung function is still excellent, (much to my doctors disgust) and I can still blow the top off a peak flow meter. But I can feel a regular cigarette messing with my chest and now can't wait till I can have what I call a clean smoke. (I am hoping the e-cigar will take that a stage further).

To be honest, and I know this is just a personal opinion, I have strongly felt for some time that real unadulterated tobacco is the least of the problems in cagarettes (to which I believe there is almost nil in most). I do realise that even natural nicotene and tar ain't good, but I do wonder how many smoking related problems are generated from the other chemicals, and how they just make the bad - worse. However, we are never going to see a comparison done with pure organicaly grown tobacco, which smoker or not, I am always personally going to see as a sacred plant.

But then again I have similar views on petrol additives, bio fuels and many other things we have no real long term knowledge on what they are pumping into the air. Lead was bad, but we still don't know what the new additives are really giving us, all I know is, my wife suffers more chest problems going up town, than she does at home with me smoking, (albeit limited exposure by me now) and it isn't from passive smoking!

[Kelly79]

Originally Posted by Kate

The dizzy feeling smoking sometimes gives from lack of oxygen to the brain has a bit of a hit, I wonder if that's something that some people crave too.

Yes, when I smoke a cigarette I suffer oxygen deprivation because I have (non-smoking related) bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis; and the buzz from that is part of what hooked me on cigs cause it feels like the buzz you get if your new to nicotine, only for me I got it with every cig. I'm glad I quit smoking though as oxygen deprivation has it's own nasty side effects too.