Nicotine(Tobacco)

A complete list of the reasons toavoid smoking and chewing tobacco is not necessary here, but for starters,how about lung cancer, lip cancer, throat cancer, respiratory problems,heart disease and bad breath.

Tobacco contains nicotine. Nicotine isa drug. Therefore,when people smoke or chew tobacco, they are using a drug.

Brief History of Tobacco

ChristopherColumbus and his crewman on theirvoyage to the "New World" were the first Europeans to see tobacco smoking.The tobacco plant is called Nicotiana tabacum and is named after anearly importer named Jean Nicot. A water/nicotine mixture has been usedas an insecticide since 1746. In 1828, nicotine was isolated from theleaves of the tobacco plant.

Effects of Nicotine on the Nervous System

In tobacco smoke,nicotine "rides" on small particles of tar. When the smoke with thisnicotine/tar mixture gets to the lungs, the nicotine is absorbed quickly -nicotine reaches the brain about 8 seconds after the smoke is inhaled. American cigarettes contain about 9 mg of nicotine, but since much of thenicotine is burned off, a smoker gets about 1 mg of nicotine in everycigarette. Nicotine reaches the central nervous system in about 3-5minutes when tobacco is chewed.

Smoking can be stimulating or relaxing - it depends on a person's mood anddosage of nicotine. Nicotine acts on the central and peripheral nervoussystem. The rapid effects of nicotine include: Increases in blood pressure and heart rate Faster respiration Constriction of arteries Stimulation of the central nervous system.

Long term exposureto tobacco and nicotine increases the chances of cancerand results in addiction and dependence. Exactly how nicotine producesaddiction and dependence is not clear, but there are some theories. In the brain, limbic pathways that use the neurotransmitter dopamine are affected by nicotine and may beresponsible for some of the addictive properties. It is clear though,that nicotine is one of the most addicting substances known...justask anyone who has tried to quit smoking. Common withdrawal symptoms inpeople who are trying to "kick the habit" of tobacco include: Anxiety Depression Headaches Fatigue "To cease smoking is the easiest thing I ever did. I ought to know,because I've done it a thousand times" - quote from MarkTwain

Did youknow?

According to the WorldHealth Organization, there are 1.1 billion smokers worldwide and 6000billion cigarettes are smoked every year. Accordingto the US Centers for DiseaseControl,there are about 47 million adult cigarette smokers in the US.Moreover, tobacco use in the US results in more than 430,000 deaths each year (about 1 in 5 deaths.) The economic costs of tobacco use cost morethan $100 billion.

For more information about nicotine, see: Anti-Smoking MasterPage CigaretteSmoking General Information aboutTobacco from the American CancerSociety HealthFacts about Tobacco History of TobaccoTimeline NicotineAddiction Nicotine andthe Brain - from the Society for Neuroscience NicotineDependence SmokelessTobacco Tobacco Facts What's YourPoison - Nicotine WhyFiles - Smoke Gets in Your Eyes - Nicotine

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