Nicotine Believed Not to be Addictive

[rothenbj]

I was googling nicotine addiction after reading one of our members threads on how "highly addictive" nicotine is and this article popped up-

Professor: Nicotine does not cause cigarette addiction | The State Press - An independent daily serving Arizona State University

Of course this is just one man's opinion and he wants to continue studying his belief, but I found it interesting.

I've always felt that the "habit" part of smoking was just as addicting as the nicotine portion of smoking. I think that is why many of the people here have been successful with e-cigs where everything else has failed in getting off analogs. The e-cig allows the habitual nature of smoking to continue with the same hand to face movement, the same view of "a white cloud" appearing as the nicotine level is reduced.

Just some food for thought.

[TropicalBob]

Anyone who writes that nicotine is not addictive is either: (1) an elderly retired employee who spent a lifetime at Philip Morris and still believes the lies; (2) a complete idiot who can't read scientific studies; (3) a non-smoker who was born on a small island and never left and asks the questioner, "What's nicotine?"

[FluffaPuff]

Very interesting article. I do believe that the combination of nicotine AND the myriad of other chemicals they add to cigarettes is what makes them so highly addictive. Isn't that a major reason why the tobacco companies add all those other chemicals?

[toastiepenguin]

interesting take on addiction, but nicotine is a natural insecticide in the nightshade group of plants and the chemical itself binds onto the receptors on various parts of the body, mainly parts of the brain, and in turn releases dopamine. This would be the addictive quality that nicotine has though it might affect each individual at a different rate. Most drugs do this thought the effects are different, and most are natural defense mechanisms that plants have developed to survive. We just get high off of them, though the bugs which are eating the plant aren't as lucky to enjoy this because they end up dieing from overdose.

[OutWest]

My personal opinion is that nicotine is addictive, but that cigs are more addictive because of the carbon monoxide (which causes the headrush bit and wooziheadedness) and the myriad of other chemicals and additives.

[Kitabz]

I definitely believe there is more to tobacco addiction than just nicotine (but it is part of the equation). Maybe MAOIs, maybe something else.

Whilst e-cigs are unbeatable for the physical side of smoking, I find snus and nasal snuff much more satisfying and "complete" the way that normal cigarettes were. Much the same way that coffee would be pleasurable but Red Bull would make me jumpy even though the caffeine levels are similar.

The chemical side of things apart, I also believe that the relapse rate for cigarettes (or other tobacco products) is so high just because the effects are pleasurable & desirable so after some point it's not really an addiction but just another temptation that never goes away. Of course with tobacco, giving into that temptation will again restart the addiction.

After the nicotine/mystery-other-ingredients withdrawal has passed in say a month or so, the desire to smoke/consume again is not much different than the desire to have a piece of chocolate or an alcoholic drink or any number of other pleasurable things.

The short-term success rate for quitting is terrible for smoking because the initial cravings are so awful but I would imagine that the long term relapse rate for smokers is not much worse than the long term relapse rate for food (dieting) or alcohol or other similar enjoyable things.

[Liscab]

Let s say that nicotine is addictive, but that is something that we can get rid it off, but the action of the smoke it another point

[JebGipson]

Nicotine addiction and the psychological connections are an interesting subject. For example, my friend only smokes when he is drinking (once or twice a week) and even then only maybe 2-4 cigarettes during a 4 hour drinking. Yet he does not seem at all interested in a cigarette any other time, nor have I ever seen him smoking one besides when he is drinking. But just a beer or two and he starts "jonesing" for a smoke. To what can this be attributed? Perhaps he has a funky pineal gland (which from what I've learned is a major brain component of addictive behavior)

[googled]

Technically, nicotine is not significantly addictive, as nicotine administered alone does not produce significant reinforcing properties.[34] However, only after coadministration with an MAOI, such as those found in tobacco, nicotine produces significant behavioral sensitization, a measure of addiction potential. This is similar in effect to amphetamine.[35]

Wikipedia : Psychoactive effects

[spring007]

some people find coffee very very addictive while others (like me ) don't. IMO, same thing holds good with nicotine. I guess it depends on the person...