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...

 

[Giantfan]

I would have to agree with this article based off my own experiences.

When I smoked, I was completely addicted. When I tried to smoke Winstons, I just didn't 'enjoy' them and they never stuck.

Same thing with American Spirits. They supposedly have a super dose of free base nicotine, but when I smoked them, my smoking addiction really reduced. I didn't find them pleasurable, and I was only craving my Marlboros when I wanted a smoke. So of course, I gave up on those too.

When I went to Swedish Snus, I became non addicted. I could use it whenever I wanted to. I would go the whole day not even thinking about using it. I used it for pleasure.

Whatever combo is in mass produced cigarettes us responsible for the addiction. Nicotine is a component, but I don't think nicotine outside of cigarettes is addictive.

 

[HaploVoss]

I have mixed feelings on the matter. I know the combo in regular ciggies is the major factor in the strong addictive quality of them, but nicotine must have some addictive qualities.

I also do not suffer any problems with coffee / caffeine withdrawls and I LOVE coffees. I can drink a pot or more a day for days, then go weeks without it when we run out and I never notice a difference, and don't have any trouble sleeping.

However, if I go a few days using no nic juice in my e cigs, I start to feel anxious and irritable. --> I slap on a cart or drip some good nic juice and I feel better in just a minute or two. I can definitely FEEL the difference.

So I also believe it must just be different for different people just like caffeine. My wife cannot survive without her diet coke for more than a few days or her migranes kick in something awful.

Take care all. Interesting topic,
- Hap

 

[TropicalBob]

Be sure to site Wikipedia to the FDA, which says nicotine is addictive and poisonous ...

 

[Kate51]

It only took me about 3 hours to get addicted to e-juice TB. It wasn't even fun, I was getting stuff in my mouth, burning out batteries, all of that I was doing everything wrong. But, it happened. Must be something to that addiction thing...I've read and commented on that article as well.
We all have asked the question many times, though...is it the "nicotine", or is it what the nicotine is "in"! Of course, how would one test that theory? Prove a negative! Oh, that should be easy.

And how could it be so easily cut back, I went from 24mg/ml to 18mg/ml without so much as an eye blink. Nothing happened. Hmmm. Maybe should try that again, do I hear 12mg??
Oh, by the way, should I be cutting the caffeine as well, to kinda co-ordinate my addictions. Maybe so...but..I hate decaf coffee almost as much as hate going without my nic fix. Even a little one is better than none, IMHO. It just wouldn't be pretty.

 

[Nestran]

There is no doubt in my mind that Nicotine is addictive.

There are some that are posting that they are able to cut their nic from 24 to 18 to 12 etc... with no problem. My question to you, are you vaping more as you cut the dosage? hitting longer, holding it longer? (I know there are some that are using 0 nic, there are also 15% of the population that do not get addicted to nicotine)

for the general population, Nicotine is addictive.

With cigarettes, it is hard to cut the nicotine content and still deal with it because you are smoking. If you increase your frequency to satisfy the craving, you start to feel ill because of the crap that comes along with it.

Vapers do not have this issue. We can puff away like Thomas all day creating the illusion that we cut back because we are not noticing that we are doing it more and maintaining levels.

Nestran

 

[bassn99]

Some very interesting reading indeed. Who is right? Wrong? Don't matter to me. I can vape 36 mg, 24 mg, 18mg, or like right now "0" and get the same pleasure as when I was puffing on a nasty analog. I too believe there are a lot of other component residing in the regular analog that are additive, not just the nicotine. But, hey, that is just MHO too. I am still a NON-SMOKER no matter what anyone else thinks....

 

[Kate51]

There is no doubt in my mind that Nicotine is addictive.

There are some that are posting that they are able to cut their nic from 24 to 18 to 12 etc... with no problem. My question to you, are you vaping more as you cut the dosage? hitting longer, holding it longer? (I know there are some that are using 0 nic, there are also 15% of the population that do not get addicted to nicotine)

for the general population, Nicotine is addictive.

With cigarettes, it is hard to cut the nicotine content and still deal with it because you are smoking. If you increase your frequency to satisfy the craving, you start to feel ill because of the crap that comes along with it.

Vapers do not have this issue. We can puff away like Thomas all day creating the illusion that we cut back because we are not noticing that we are doing it more and maintaining levels.

Nestran

That's a fair and good question, because people are a little nervous and still that's understandable too. But I've found myself NOT vaping more, in fact my e-liquids are stretching farther all the time. It's not something I'm being particularly concerned with.
The biggest problem with any addiction is the PANIC factor, and I've written about it a lot! With an e-cig, I think there's a lot to be said about the PANIC factor, because people know if there's a problem they can revert back, calm down, and revert to previous. Because they know they can!
If you ever noticed, if you were a heavy smoker, the farther down that pack got or the carton emptied, the more you smoked, and I can attest to that! The PANIC was setting in. It's not a concious thing, it's a normal reaction, like a starving batch of kittens, it's the strongest that survives? Because why? He is the one strong enough to act out panic, and scarf down whatever he can get. Or like the driver caught speeding, I was trying to get home before the gas tank went dry. It's the same human reaction, there's Fight, Flight, and PANIC. That's what drives every addict, when you think about it. People are capable of doing horrible things in order to avoid the obvious ~ being without, and the consequences of it!
I'm way more comfortable with an e-cig than I ever was smoking tobacco. I have total control. I can be ready for emergencies, extra mechanicals, extra juice, that's all I need. (And a stash in the cupboard!)
BIG TIME have noticed my comfort zone is widening more all the time. And that spills over into a whole lot of other parts of your life as well, as your sense of well-being now also includes you heightened awareness of what is NOT hindering you anymore, i.e. thousands of chemicals in your body and brain. I have issues with normal physical problems, arthritis, ADD, things that have to be dealt with if possible, but a more calm psyche cannot be beat!
Yes, Nicotine can be toxic, poisonous, or useful! I mentioned ADD, it's a malfunction of brain function, short-term and long-term memory, stimulous reactions. The euphoric effect of using nicotine (in sensible amounts) is a good thing. Sure beats a pill some Dr. gives you that makes a zombie out of you.
This is part of the metaphysical makeup of a lot of people, we call them "prone" to addiction. Because there's something half a tic off in our neurological/metabolic functioning.
There's testing with nicotine relative to a whole lot of neurological and hormonal studies, parkinson's, schitzophrenia, bi-polar, etc. I'm sorry to be going on again, it's that thing..can't help it..

 

[TheB0lt]

I've no doubt that nic is addictive.

I suppose everyone handles it differently, though.

At present, we're doing 6mg. Last week it was 16mg because I was waiting on the lower-dose order to come! The drop in strength didn't really phase us. We aren't vaping more than usual, aren't cranky and still satisfied.

And the throat hit is more to my liking (that is to say, less) and flavor is WUUUUUNDAFUL!

 

[Kate51]

I've no doubt that nic is addictive.

I suppose everyone handles it differently, though.

At present, we're doing 6mg. Last week it was 16mg because I was waiting on the lower-dose order to come! The drop in strength didn't really phase us. We aren't vaping more than usual, aren't cranky and still satisfied.

And the throat hit is more to my liking (that is to say, less) and flavor is WUUUUUNDAFUL!

I love seeing posts like yours!! Best of luck to you, welcome to ECF also.

 

[dragonpuff]

In my own experience, i've noticed a distinct difference in cravings between smoking and vaping:

When i used to smoke (a pack a day), after not smoking for more than an hour i would start craving. I would be nasty irritable, very anxious and unfocused, and i would obsess about having a cigarette to the point where i couldn't even pay attention to a simple conversation. It was enormously uncomfortable and i would do anything i could to be able to have one just so i could get my mind back and be able to focus on other things. Really, the cravings ruled my life.

With vaping (24mg) i still have cravings, but they're different. I can go 3 hours without vaping before i start craving it! I will experience some loss of focus and tiredness after only an hour, and that will gradually get worse (1 1/2 hours before i can't pay attention in class anymore), but i won't even be thinking too much about vaping until i hit that 3 hour mark. Once i hit that i start getting a bit irritable, but not as bad as with cigarettes, and i don't obsess about vaping the same way i did with smokes.

The biggest difference i've noticed; no more anxiety!
On Cigarettes: "Gotta have one, gotta have one, now, now, NOW!!!"
On Vaping: "I feel like crap, i wanna vape."

Huge difference indeed! In fact my overall anxiety level has gone down as well. I'm far more relaxed in general than i used to be. That in and of itself is reason enough to stick with vaping and not go back to cigarettes! My cravings are so much more tolerable now, i feel so much better! I'm still dependent on nicotine, but i'm ok with that; it really doesn't bother me anymore.

Antidepressants have been proven to cause anxiety in some people.
MAOI's are a form of antidepressant.
Therefore....

I am so glad i'm not inhaling antidepressants all day long anymore!