Just how addictive is nicotine... Really?

[zapped]

Oh, I have absolutely no intention to quit vaping. My rush to be rid of the nic is mostly due my tinnitus and borderline blood pressure. Just don't need the stimulus.
Don't worry about me, I've got my travel kit full of different levels of juice if I need them. But I need to find out for myself. Like they say... Everyone is different.View attachment 494062

Good luck to you.

Its good that you have backups and juice with nicotine in your travel kit.

I didnt smoke as long as you but I was a two pack a day smoker (Marlboro Reds) for 25 years.

The cravings for a cigarette (and even dreams about smoking) didnt stop for me until after I hit the 1 year mark. And thats the biggest danger IMO.

 

[Alien Traveler]

Actually it isn't very addictive at all, all the crap that is added to cigs is what makes smoking much more addictive than just nicotine

I've had this on my mind for some time now.
With the aid of 24mg juice it took me only 2 weeks to beat the analogs with all the super addictive extras that I believe BT adds.

I see this misinformation too often in various posts. Could you supply links to reputable source which tell about these "addictive additives"?
As far as I know additives are for better overall taste (like in juice - are flavors addictive?) and, may be, for better absorption of nicotine. Often mentioned MAOI are natural for tobacco.

For me it is also obvious that cigarettes are more addictive overall than vaping. But it is true even for cigarettes without any additives.

 

[coolerat]

It's an extremely important component of addiction behavior. Like I said before, the reason why most people fail to quit smoking with the nicotine patch and gum is that it doesn't take into consideration for the missed hand-to-mouth behavior of smoking despite replacing the nicotine to the brain.

I might jokingly say that I'm addicted to chocolate. That's probably not a real addiction physically, but mentally it might be very difficult to suddenly stop consuming several chocolates a day if that is what I've been accustomed to for years. The same goes for caffeine (coffee, tea, etc).

I personally took up vaping to stop smoking because of its affiliation with causing cancer. I wasn't looking to quit smoking, but looking for a healthier alternative. Over three years, I've dropped the nic level in my vape from 24 mg down to 6 mg. I would still miss the hand to mouth behavior and the inhaling/exhaling of vapor whether I went to 0 mg or quit altogether.

Words are hard for me so I'm gonna muck this all up so bare with me.

The hand to mouth thing. I'm 100% with you on that. In the beginning thats tough. But once the break is made that goes away.

I quit smoking for a couple years when I turned 40. It was a big thing for me then. It was rough for awhile and then it wasn't. So I know as long as I vape that part isn't gonna go away. Vaping is a crutch in away. But it helps with the nic so crossing one bridge at a time type thing.

But that nicotine. Its out of your body in a short while so like all addictions its all in your head (and mine, general term). And I swear the brain learns things that once learned cannot be unlearned.

I haven't had a drink in over 18 years and right this minute I don't even want one. Mostly cause I can't do another rehab. But when certain things line up just so I swear my mind goes right into drink mode.

Same with nicotine. Fine without it. But put me under stress. Nic is the answer. Normal people don't think that way Try explaining to a normal person how getting rehooked on a addictive substance for another 40 years to get through a stressful event makes sense?? But yet to a nic junkie it makes sense.

TL DR. Nic addicts are some crazy folks.

 

[Foggy Road]

The cravings for a cigarette (and even dreams about smoking) didnt stop for me until after I hit the 1 year mark. And thats the biggest danger IMO.

I know what your saying'. I had a "WOW" moment a week or so back when realized I hadn't thought about an analog for 3-4 days. What I had been thinking about was my analog flavor juice that I had left at home.

 

[zapped]

I see this misinformation too often in various posts. Could you supply links to reputable source which tell about these "addictive additives"?
As far as I know additives are for better overall taste (like in juice - are flavors addictive?) and, may be, for better absorption of nicotine. Often mentioned MAOI are natural for tobacco.

For me it is also obvious that cigarettes are more addictive overall than vaping. But it is true even for cigarettes without any additives.

The act of smoking a cigarette creates somewhere between 4k and 7k chemicals and thats a conservative estimate.

Do you REALLY think that nicotine is the only addictive chemical in that toxic soup?

If so, you and I should talk about going into business together. You can be the silent partner who funds everything and I will try to keep...cough cough...accurate records for you in regards to my expenditures.

 

[Alien Traveler]

The act of smoking a cigarette creates somewhere between 4k and 7k chemicals and thats a conservative estimate.

Do you REALLY think that nicotine is the only addictive chemical in that toxic soup?

If so, you and I should talk about going into business together. You can be the silent partner who funds everything and I will try to keep...cough cough...accurate records for you in regards to my expenditures.

What you are talking about? With whom? My post was about additives, and yours?

 

[zapped]

What you are talking about? With whom? My post was about additives, and yours?

Mine was too.....you dont think that the additives contribute even more chemicals to the mix? Some of them potentially addictive?

Its NOT misinformation. We've know for years that BT has specifically added chemicals to speed nicotines delivery to the brain and to enhance its effects. Is it that far of a stretch to assume that they also add chemicals that are themselves addictive as well?

http://www.drugabuse.gov/publicatio...chemicals-may-contribute-to-tobacco-addiction

 

[Foggy Road]

I see this misinformation too often in various posts. Could you supply links to reputable source which tell about these "addictive additives"?

No sir, I can't provide the links you request. I said " I believe " not "I can prove". Please excuse me if my beliefs disturb you. You, as is anyone else, are more than welcome to ignore them.

 

[zapped]

http://www.medicaldaily.com/why-smo...tine-despite-what-weve-been-told-years-260839

 

[cigarbabe]

I simply cannot buy into that "hand to mouth" as a real part of addiction.
I eat in the same manner....Is food an addiction?
Clearly for some... but then I don't buy into the whole cigs alone cause cancer bs.
3 PAD Kool smoker and 3-10 cigars on top of those Kools for 37 years.
Haven't had one in more than 5 years.

Here are the links to the ingredients.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_additives_in_cigarettes
C.B.

 

[Alien Traveler]

No sir, I can't provide the links you request. I said " I believe " not "I can prove". Please excuse me if my beliefs disturb you. You, as is anyone else, are more than welcome to ignore them.

Thanks. Create response. I hope to learn from you.

 

[Oliver]

The problem is, all this stuff is MUCH more complex than simple "additives" or "hand to mouth" - both are true, to an extent, but there's more to it.

For example, additives: Do tobacco companies put additives in cigarettes to make them "more addictive"? Well, yes and no - what they do is put additives in to make smoke more pleasant. More pleasant means more inhalation, means more addiction.

Is the hand to mouth thing real? Well, yes - nicotine is a "behavioral sensitiser" - in other words, it makes conditioned cues associated with nicotine much more salient than they otherwise would be. So, yes, the hand to mouth thing is real, but it's not just the hand-to-mouth action - it's repeated hand-to-mouth action associated with nicotine consumption.

 

[coolerat]

The problem is, all this stuff is MUCH more complex than simple "additives" or "hand to mouth" - both are true, to an extent, but there's more to it.

For example, additives: Do tobacco companies put additives in cigarettes to make them "more addictive"? Well, yes and no - what they do is put additives in to make smoke more pleasant. More pleasant means more inhalation, means more addiction.

Is the hand to mouth thing real? Well, yes - nicotine is a "behavioral sensitiser" - in other words, it makes conditioned cues associated with nicotine much more salient than they otherwise would be. So, yes, the hand to mouth thing is real, but it's not just the hand-to-mouth action - it's repeated hand-to-mouth action associated with nicotine consumption.

See this is what I wanted to say but with big words and proper spelling.

 

[Foggy Road]

Thanks. Create response. I hope to learn from you.

I believe that's what we're all here for. It takes a bunch of us bangin our heads together to get it right.

 

[DC2]

Is the hand to mouth thing real? Well, yes - nicotine is a "behavioral sensitiser" - in other words, it makes conditioned cues associated with nicotine much more salient than they otherwise would be. So, yes, the hand to mouth thing is real, but it's not just the hand-to-mouth action - it's repeated hand-to-mouth action associated with nicotine consumption.

This may be one of the first things you've ever said that I totally disagree with...

--The hand -to-mouth
--The calming smoking ritual
--Watching the swirling smoke
--The rhythmic breathing
--Getting away from it all for 10 minutes

These were the reasons why I smoked.
Not the nicotine.

I may not be in the majority, but I still exist.

And I am still willing to consider that when all is said and done...
We MAY find out I actually am in the majority.

 

[Oliver]

Oh, links:

This may be one of the first things you've ever said that I totally disagree with...

--The hand -to-mouth
--The calming smoking ritual
--Watching the swirling smoke
--The rhythmic breathing
--Getting away from it all for 10 minutes

These were the reasons why I smoked.
Not the nicotine.

I may not be in the majority, but I still exist.

And I am still willing to consider that when all is said and done...
We MAY find out I actually am in the majority.

I don't think you have to strongly disagree with me

What I'm saying is that this is potentially a false dichotomy: The hand-to-mouth, the ritual, the swirling smoke - these are all more salient because of the nicotine.

Now, I accept that this might not be the case for you personally, but there's much that I like in the behavioral sensitisation model, and much that accords with other drug behaviors. It's also a really neat model that accords with a whole area of neuropsychology of which I am a huge fan and student: Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory. I'm absolutely NOT going to go into it here, because most people will think I'm engaging in neurobabble

 

[DC2]

Now, I accept that this might not be the case for you personally...

If you accept that then I'll go ahead and agree that you have valid points.
Because, clearly, you do.

But my question is how many people are REALLY like me in the end?
I know many are not, and the nicotine may be the end-all be-all thing for them in this whole equation.

But I know many ARE like me.
And many more, I believe, are also like me but don't realize it yet.

We're a long way from determining all of the factors involved here.
And I advocate for keeping an open mind to the possibility that things are not all that clear cut.

 

[cigarbabe]

I'm going to have to agree with DC2 here.
For myself I'm using vaping now to get nicotine....
I don't think I get half as much pleasure from it.....
So Smokey Joe why isn't the same "hand to mouth" component in smoking an addiction for those who eat?
Don't they derive pleasure from the act?
We know foods can be addictive or the act of eating is comforting for some.
I have to liken these actions to a "real addiction" but I find no similarities.
There are several studies saying sugar may also be a behavioral sensitizer.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2235907/
C.B.

 

[DaveSignal]

I love vaping, but I also love the nicotine. And caffeine in my coffee. These are things that make me feel good. And are not particularly harmful. Are they addictive? I like nicotine and would prefer not to go without it. If I ran out, I would do whatever it takes to acquire more. I guess this means that I am addicted. So what?

 

[Rabbit Slayer]

I see this misinformation too often in various posts. Could you supply links to reputable source which tell about these "addictive additives"?
As far as I know additives are for better overall taste (like in juice - are flavors addictive?) and, may be, for better absorption of nicotine. Often mentioned MAOI are natural for tobacco.

For me it is also obvious that cigarettes are more addictive overall than vaping. But it is true even for cigarettes without any additives.

If I can find a link I will....

but from personal experience, the other day I had ear pain when I would inhale or use a straw and ended up not vaping, couldn't do that when I smoked, even if it hurt, I needed my fix...and I still vape 12mg mostly