The Nicotine myth

[ConradM]

So many folks have been told so many times that nicotine is highly addictive but have they considered that it is NOT the nicotine that makes a person dependent on cigarettes.

I can only use myself as an example. I quit smoking the day I bought my first cig-a-like. I started this smoke free journey with 24mg liquid. Within a very short time that 24 was to much. Went down to 18 within a couple of months. Then to 16
I make my own liquids so have now reduced my normal strength down to 12/13mg and often have to cut even that in half because it is to much. My body tells me that it is to strong (start getting shaky and kinda nauseous). I personally feel like nicotine has added health benefits so I don't plan on ever going down to 0 nic but time will tell on that.

What was a dependence on smoking has now become a pleasurable habit for me.

Please consider that nicotine isn't the big bad wolf that we have been beat over the head with for all these years.

I don't care what I've been told. I care that my body feels like it's going to shut down if I go more than 2 hours without vaping 18mg out of my RSST with a hot build.

While I understand what you're saying, that there are other addictive properties in tobacco... to me at least the nic itself is the most addictive.

 

[ConradM]

Darn. It's very hard to convey emotion in print, but I'm trying.
It's not a matter of going without. It's a matter of causing harm to other people to feed the addiction. If you are causing overt harm to other people, then, yes, Seek help.
If you neglect your spouse, children or job in order to get your "fix" of nicotine, then you have an addiction issue.
If not, I'm telling you that you have a habit.
The word addiction has negative connotations. THIS is the point I'm trying..
Apparently without any success at all..
To make.

It may have a negative connotation. That doesn't really bother me. I accept that people have addictions in life.

To me a habit is something you can easily change. Like popping your gum or spitting. An addiction is something you have a physical dependency on. If I go without Nicotine or coffee (not caffeine, coffee) I will literally get the shakes, lose focus and rage to point of destroying something.

That being said, my vaping or coffee drinking has no ill affects on anyone but myself if any.

 

[Myk]

"No withdrawal symptoms suggesting nicotine addiction have been reported either after 4–6 weeks of therapy in short-term studies, or after a period of up to 6 months in the only long-term study available [13]."

Nicotine treatment for ulcerative colitis

 

[mattiem]

I don't care what I've been told. I care that my body feels like it's going to shut down if I go more than 2 hours without vaping 18mg out of my RSST with a hot build.

While I understand what you're saying, that there are other addictive properties in tobacco... to me at least the nic itself is the most addictive.

I do understand what you are saying and what you are going through. I was the same way when I started this smoke free journey but I knew (for me) it was more than just nicotine I was giving up. As my body got used to not getting all the chemicals in the Smoke it got much better and I was able to start cutting down on the strength of the nic.

I wish you good luck on your journey.

 

[thirtyfour41]

I disagree with the people who say nicotine is not addictive, I am totally addicted to nicotine and believe it is addictive. I am also addicted to caffeine. I am not that long off the analog train, either, but have been able to decrease my nic level from 18 to 12 already. Not sure if I have any desire to go to 0, but for now, I'm going to stay around 12. Maybe in 3-4 months go down a bit more. But I find the nicotine calming, and I still do enjoy that throat hit. Maybe eventually I'll go from chain vaping down to occasional puffs throughout the day, but I don't see myself quitting anytime soon. I agree with some others who say it's the lesser of two evils from analogs.

EDIT: I also believe anything can be addictive if you use it enough. I'm addicted to chapstick, and I know I'm not the only one.

 

[pcrdude]

Maybe the term addiciton means different things to different people? When reading this thread, I start wondering about some other addictions that are harmful, but not physical (biochemical).

For example, there are known addictions to gambling, and sex. Those are considered to be harmful, and the harm isn't a strong enough incentive to "break" the addiction.

In terms of caffeine and nicotine, they may be addictive to some, and less so to others. I have known people who have to wake up at night to have a cigarette, and others who can have cigarettes only when drinking. The gambling and sex addictions are easy to categorize into two general classes -> Those who can participate in moderation, without compulsion OR those who have an irresitable compulsion to participate in those activities.

Medically (psychologically at least), the DSM IV (or is it V now?), has the generally accepted definition of "addiction", at least in the physchological realm. Of course, there are the biochemical addictions (alcohol, ......, etc.) that completely fall into the category of physical (biochemical) addiction.

So maybe (just maybe), addiction (for any of the things in this post), are individual?????

 

[Myk]

There is a Very Simple Test that Any Vaper can do to that does Not Rely on what Some Other persons says about Habits or Addiction or Dependency.

And that is: Before you go to sleep Tonight, put your PV on your Kitchen Table. And then tomorrow, go All Day without Using or Touching It.

If you go the Entire day without Feeling Any Different then when you Use your PV, you do Not have a Habit or Addiction or Dependency to e-Cigarettes.

But if you Don't Feel the Same.

Well, then you might want to Rethink what words like Habit or Addiction or Dependency mean and how they pertain to Your Situation.

Uhh, no.

I could go all day without taking Xanax but if I have a panic attack I'm going to feel different. If I don't have panic or pain I don't need the Xanax.
I could go all day without taking Dicyclomine but if I have a pain that I need it for I'll feel different.
I could go all day without taking 5-ASA, I'll go into a flare and obviously feel different. That flare will cause me to have panic and pain which will cause me to need the other drugs.
Likewise I could go without using nicotine which cuts the effectiveness of the 5-ASA (by about 100% for me, 25% by the studies), go into a flare, have panic and pain.

I have a medical dependency for these drugs. That does not mean I am addicted to them. Even with Xanax which is highly addictive and I have been taking a lot of these last couple of months is not an addiction, I take it when I need it and don't take it when I don't, and I'm sure that when I am back in remission it will be like all the other times over the 8 years I've been taking it and I may go a month without taking it. I am not destroying my life or other's lives to get a fix. I'm not abusing, I'm using.
I think this last flare started because of nicotine's lack of addiction (as opposed to cigarettes) because this far from cigarettes I'm not driven to keep my nicotine levels up. I've been thinking of going to a patch because of it (but for now I'm throwing in liberal use of dual coils with 18mg and it seems to be working).

This may help explain the difference between addiction and dependency
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-mmTGKMvpU

 

[bender817]

addiction (ə-dĭk'shən) Pronunciation Key

A physical or psychological need for a habit-forming substance, such as a drug or alcohol. In physical addiction, the body adapts to the substance being used and gradually requires increased amounts to reproduce the effects originally produced by smaller doses. See more at withdrawal.


A habitual or compulsive involvement in an activity, such as gambling.


I am absolutely addicted to nicotine. My addiction will never hurt those around me, but I feel that it is more important for me to vape than to eat. If I only had the money or time for one, its the nic every time. I require between 52-75 mg of nic a day. Period. I have gone lower and its not pretty at all. Lower nic juice just means I drip it and chain vape. I went down to 8 mg and vaped way too much juice. Back at 12, still too much juice, but I'm not working for it as hard.

 

[thirtyfour41]

So maybe (just maybe), addiction (for any of the things in this post), are individual?????

I can agree with that, some things are more addictive to different people. But the fact remains, still, nicotine or not, ANYTHING can be addictive if used enough.

 

[Iffy]

I'm addicted to chapstick...

What nic level?

 

[zoiDman]

Maybe the term addiciton means different things to different people? When reading this thread, I start wondering about some other addictions that are harmful, but not physical (biochemical).

For example, there are known addictions to gambling, and sex. Those are considered to be harmful, and the harm isn't a strong enough incentive to "break" the addiction.

Ding-Ding-Ding. Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner.

Absolutely I believe Addiction has Different Meanings to Different People. (Just like Most/All Words.)

And there are Varying Degrees of Severity also. From "Mild" to Full Blown Raging. And Everything in between.

To me, an Addiction has to Include a "Inability to Control Something".



To me

 

[Stosh]

I don't care what I've been told. I care that my body feels like it's going to shut down if I go more than 2 hours without vaping 18mg out of my RSST with a hot build.

While I understand what you're saying, that there are other addictive properties in tobacco... to me at least the nic itself is the most addictive.

I believe what we see as an addiction, or habit changes over time the longer you're not smoking. I started vaping 36 mg, puffing continuously if my eyes were open when I put down the smokes.
After a year of vaping, I cut down to ~25 mg, but continued to vape any chance I could.
After two years, I was down to ~20 mg and was enjoying the flavors, feel and vaping in general, vaping when it was convenient, didn't notice as much when I wasn't able to vape.
After three years I'm down to 15 - 18 mg and vape for the pleasure of it, the nicotine is still important to me, keeps me level. (don't drink de-caf coffee either)

If I can't vape for a few hours, it no longer seems like the end of the world, my hands don't shake getting the first puff like when I was smoking. Whatever I was addicted to when I was smoking, nicotine and ??? is certainly different now. I like my nic, but it doesn't have the same hold over me the addiction of smoking had for so many years.

 

[zoiDman]

...

This may help explain the difference between addiction and dependency
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-mmTGKMvpU

I believe that Addiction and Physical Dependencies can be Very Similar in Nature and Appearances, but are Unique Concepts.

One deals with a Mental State.

And the Other Deals with a Physiological Condition.

I also be that a Person can Have Both an Addiction and a Dependency to the Same Substance at the Same Time.

 

[zoiDman]

... I'm addicted to chapstick, and I know I'm not the only one.

Have No Fear.

I'm Working on a New Chapstick that contains WTA.

I'm hoping to get it on the Market in Q2 or early Q3 of this Year.

 

[bender817]

Have No Fear.

I'm Working on a New Chapstick that contains WTA.

I'm hoping to get it on the Market in Q2 or early Q3 of this Year.

Guinea Pig! Right Here!

 

[roadie]

I've seen it so many times.
I've just finished replying to it.



So, let me give everyone 3 points to consider.

FIRST: There is no single accepted definition of addiction.
..... My favorite definition is: when someone is so compelled to perform an action, or imbibe a substance that they will ignore common sense to the detriment of those around them.

so..

SECOND: Smoking is addictive
THIRD: VAPING is NOT addictive

so we need a definition for wanting to do something and feeling compelled to do it when we don't harm those around us.

HABIT: a settled or regular tendency or practice, esp. one that is hard to give up.

Habit has a single accepted definition. I have a vaping habit. I have a nicotine habit.

so.. to help out those who perpetuate the myth that nicotine is addictive, let's all gather the resources that show exactly what nicotine is.
Lets leave out SMOKING nicotine, since most of us want to quit smoking (if you have not already)

CASAA:
FAQ: Nicotine (tobaccoharmreduction.org)

Does anyone else have resources to help combat this myth?

I don't believe that nicotine is addictive either, for myself. I used to smoke 15-20 bowls of dokha per day, and quit a few times for various reasons with no ill effects or cravings. Dokha has one of the highest, if not the highest nicotine level of any tobacco inhaled. Although I can't speak for other people, I find the idea of nicotine to be addictive to be FALSE.

 

[zoiDman]

I don't believe that nicotine is addictive either, for myself. I used to smoke 15-20 bowls of dokha per day, and quit a few times for various reasons with no ill effects or cravings. Dokha has one of the highest, if not the highest nicotine level of any tobacco inhaled. Although I can't speak for other people, I find the idea of nicotine to be addictive to be FALSE.

Do you think the Act of Using and e-Cigarette could be Addictive to Some People?

 

[tj99959]

I don't see that you are Disagreeing with me.

If you can go a week Without using an e-Cigarette, I don't see any Signs of what Most People would consider to be an Addiction or a Dependency.

What about the People that Can't?

And I'm one of those that can't.
If i went a week without nicotine, those around me would be lucky to be alive.

 

[Myk]

I believe that Addiction and Physical Dependencies can be Very Similar in Nature and Appearances, but are Unique Concepts.

One deals with a Mental State.

And the Other Deals with a Physiological Condition.

I also be that a Person can Have Both an Addiction and a Dependency to the Same Substance at the Same Time.

I think that's the key.
That's why they could put a patch on people for 6 months of treatment and remove the patch without any withdrawal. There's no reason to get psychologically addicted to sticking a patch on your arm. Therefore nicotine is not addictive. Although the act of delivery may be psychologically addictive, especially for a smoker going to vaping.
Or the even thought of the substance. I can go long periods without taking Xanax so there's no physical addiction, but take away my crutch of having it available and I'm going to have a problem. I have a fear of going in the hospital and not being able to have nicotine and that turning a minor problem into major drugs and surgery.

 

[Jman8]

It is interesting to me that people can be addicted to things that are otherwise 'good.' Like a job, a significant other, eating, or spirituality (to name a few). An addiction to those can easily go undetected by all persons in the addict's life, until or unless the addiction is full blown and obvious. Yet, these are items that are, when being honest, addictive. Or highly compelling.

But with the 'good' things, we generally resort to idea that certain persons have addictive personalities, and thus convince ourselves and the public that these items are not inherently addictive.

With other things, like nicotine being a prime example, we don't generally allow for any qualification about the person, and instead say it is the substance that is inherently addictive.

Yet, eCigs I think have a nicotine user question the addictive quality of nicotine. As it seems, to me, that comparison between an addiction/craving for a good eCig to an average smoke is vastly different. As (heavy) smokers, we simply did not care if someone else thought our smoking was bothersome, or smelled, or caused them discomfort. As vapers, many of these same people do care when it comes to vaping. And can now easily relate to why smoking would be bothersome. Same person. 10 years ago, that same person didn't see smoking as bad as the non-smokers they were with. Today, they see it perhaps worse than any non-smoker did then.

All this stuff continues to fascinate me. I tend to think it is the individual and mindset at work, and not physiological / bio-chemical processes at work. I realize it is a little of both, but I think it is more individual mindset and baggage carried into current addictions / habits, and less so bio-chemical stuff that may be isolated in a lab setting. The clinical version of addiction tends not to match up well with reality of day-to-day usage of the umpteen things / actions that humans are clearly addicted to, but can get a free pass on because they are an otherwise 'normal' functioning contributor to society.