Nicotine Addiction - Causes, Symptoms, and Management

What Is Nicotine Addiction?

Nicotine is the chemical substance present inside cigarettes and other tobacco products which causes an individual to get addicted or crave a particular type of drug. Nicotine is a natural ingredient present in drugs containing tobacco, and its composition varies from product to product. Nicotine is consumed via tar droplets which are produced and inhaled into the lungs when cigarettes and tobacco products are burned. It gets soaked up by the lungs and thus spreads throughout the body. Another way of its procurement is when smokeless tobacco is placed in the mouth or drawn in through the nose. In this way, it is delivered directly into the bloodstream.

The composition of nicotine present inside any drug depends on the type of drug and its origin. According to the centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) of the United States of America (USA), the cigarettes manufactured in the USA and India have around 10 milligrams and 15 milligrams of nicotine inside them, respectively. At the same time, bidi (a type of inexpensive cigarette produced in India) may have up to 27 milligrams of nicotine inside it. Users develop cravings or habits for these drugs, especially nicotine, and tend to use them repetitively, like after a meal or when they are stressed or tensed.

Tobacco addiction has become a very serious issue in this torrid-paced world where everyone is under some kind of pressure or stress. Biologically, nicotine, when used, the human brain releases dopamine, which is a feel-good chemical. Dopamine, when released, gives an individual a false sense of relief in the body and mind for a minuscule amount of time, and thus, an individual falls prey to the addictive property of nicotine.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco is a major contributor to the deaths and diseases in India. The chronic consumption of nicotine leads to deadly diseases such as cardiovascular disease (diseases related to the heart), respiratory diseases (diseases concerning the lungs), stroke (disease-causing damage to the brain), and in extreme cases, cancer (involving oral, facial and lungs), according to WHO around 1.35 million (13.5 lakh) deaths and diseases are caused in India due to consumption (and addiction) of tobacco. According to the global adult tobacco survey conducted in 2016 -2017, around one-third of adults are addicted to tobacco or tobacco-related products.

What Causes Nicotine Addiction?

• Addiction to nicotine is developed because when an individual consumes nicotine, the brain produces a neurotransmitter known as dopamine. Dopamine is produced within seconds after nicotine inhalation (either through the lungs or directly through the bloodstream); it then acts on the brain, resulting in tachycardia (increased heart rate), and enhances concentration and elevates the mood.

• Once the brain is in the hormone high (dopamine), the person is in a euphoric state making the individual happy (however short-lived it is). After the effect of nicotine levels down and the level of dopamine decreases, the euphoric state drops down, making the individual anxious and irritable, and hence the need for nicotine increases, making the individual crave nicotine, ending in addiction.

• Nicotine addiction is caused due to the consumption of tobacco and tobacco products. Addiction can be caused due to smoking cigarettes, bidi, cigars, e-cigarettes (vaping), and hookah (tobacco). Nicotine is also found in nicotine gums, smokeless tobacco products such as chewing tobacco, dips, tobacco toothpaste, and gum paints (containing tobacco).

What Are the Symptoms of Nicotine Addiction?

Besides craving nicotine, nicotine addiction has other symptoms too. Some of the signs and symptoms visible in a nicotine-addicted individual are:

• An unavoidable urge for tobacco.

• Inability to stop using tobacco (despite knowing the consequences).

• Overuse of tobacco.

• Inability to quit or reduce consumption.

• Lack of social interaction.

• Irritable mood or aggressive behavior when the quota for nicotine is not met.

When an individual tries to quit tobacco, they show withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms are produced when the brain is in a deficit of dopamine (produced due to intake of nicotine). Withdrawal symptoms of tobacco (nicotine) are broadly classified into physical and psychological symptoms.

Physical and Psychological Symptoms of Nicotine Withdrawal Includes:

• Depression.

• Anxiety disorders.

• Sleeping disorder (insomnia, sleep deprivation, and night terrors).

• Lack of motivation.

• Regular episodes of irritation and frustration.

• Changes in appetite.

• Fatigue.

• Improper digestion.

• Difficulty concentrating.

• Inability to communicate.

What Is the Management for Nicotine Addiction?

Nicotine addiction can be managed and absolved in several ways, such as:

1. Medicinal Therapy: There are several medications present today which can help an individual to quit his or her habits of tobacco (nicotine). These medications provide alternatives to nicotine cravings. Some classes of medications are:

• Antidepressants - Antidepressants such as Bupropion works by increasing brain activity by substituting nicotine and hence suppressing the urge to use tobacco.

• Alpha-Adrenergic Agonist - The food and drug association (FDA) has approved the hypertensive medication known as Clonidine as a medication that works for smoking cessation.

2. Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is the way an individual shares their fears, conditions, issues, addiction symptoms, and withdrawal symptoms. A licensed psychologist then advises different types of therapy in order to help. Different therapies used in nicotine addiction are cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and family therapy (for people with family members suffering from nicotine addiction).

A licensed medical counselor can help a serial addict (of tobacco or nicotine) in order to minimize or reduce tobacco use, in turn reducing nicotine consumption.

3. Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT): Nicotine replacement therapy provides an alternative to nicotine without actual or real use of nicotine. The continuous supply helps to diminish the want and need, which occurs when one tries to quit smoking and calms the withdrawal symptoms. Some examples of NRT are:

• Nicotine gums.

• Nicotine patches.

• Nicotine nasal spray.

• Nicotine Inhaler.

4. Support Groups: Several support groups are established which can help one to quit tobacco and its products. Support groups help to reduce cravings, needs, and wants of tobacco. These groups help an individual to concentrate their mind’s attention on activities unrelated to tobacco use. It helps an individual to minimize their negative thoughts.

Conclusion:

Currently, the world is dealing with a lot of health hazards, in which tobacco addiction has become a major health issue for the whole world. Nicotine addiction is the primary factor that compels the individual to carry on using tobacco-related products. This is a vicious cycle that engulfs an individual whenever they try to either start or quit. On account of the people who start smoking, about one-third become daily smokers. The World health organization has estimated that there are around 1.3 billion smokers in the whole world currently. These carcinogenic (cancer-causing) substances are one of the causes of respiratory illnesses, often failure, which has become a primary source of deaths in the world today. However, when an individual looks to get out of this toxic, callous cycle, there are several ways developed in order to help them, including medications and therapies.