View Single Post
Old 03-18-2006, 11:04 AM  
loverboy
When it rains, it pours
 
Industry Role:
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 20,609
Quote:
Originally Posted by loverboy
To her its like Pringles, once you puff you can't stop.

Cigarettes are highly efficient nicotine delivery devices and are as addictive as drugs such as heroin or cocaine.

In relation, it would be interesting to know the real facts behind nicotine addiction.

Nicotine is a stimulant drug, but paradoxically effects of both stimulation and relaxation may be felt. The mental and physical state of the smoker, and the situation in which smoking occurs, can influence the way in which a particular cigarette will affect psychological perceptions. The addictive effect of nicotine is linked to its capacity to trigger the release of dopamine - a chemical in the brain that is associated with feelings of pleasure. However, recent research has suggested that in the long term, nicotine depresses the ability of the brain to experience pleasure. Thus, smokers need greater amounts of the drug to achieve the same levels of satisfaction. Smoking is therefore a form of self-medication: further smoking alleviates the withdrawal symptoms which set in soon after the effects of nicotine wear off. -- ash.org.UK
loverboy is offline   Share thread on Digg Share thread on Twitter Share thread on Reddit Share thread on Facebook Reply With Quote