Nicotine Addiction
A simple nicotine addiction test for smokers is for them to be honest about whether or not they need to smoke a cigarette within 30 minutes of waking after a good nights rest.
This measure is used as a rough guide by healthcare profesionals and manufacturers of Nicotine Replacement Therapy products to determine appropriate dosages likely to deliver optimal clinical effects.
Depending on the number and type of cigarettes smoked each day, it can take several months for smokers to wean themselves from nicotine addiction using NRT.
Therefore, as a general rule of thumb...
... if you feel the need to smoke daily and you meet the minimum requirements for recommended use of NRT products then you ARE probably addicted.
This page continues to answer a few frequently asked questions before moving on to provide information and support about how to deal with withdrawal symptoms.
What Is Nicotine?
Nicotine gets its name from the tobacco plant Nicotiana Tabacum which belongs the Solanaceae family of plants (also known as the nightshade or potato family).
It is present in many other plants but Nicotiana Tabacum is the main source of commercially cultivated and processed tobacco leaves that are used for making cigarettes.
Nicotine is therefore a naturally occuring chemical compound (like morphine and opium which come from poppy seeds).
Just like those chemicals, nicotine is very fast acting and it is one of the most addictive substances known to man.
Key Facts about the Effects of Nicotine
- Nicotine affects many different parts of the body at the same time.
- After just one puff of a cigarette it begins to act on the central nervous system, brain and other parts of the body.
- It actually stimulates your system, even though it makes you feel relaxed.
- Nicotine affects chemicals in the brain and, after a puff, you usually feel good for a moment or two, which is why many smokers view smoking as stress relief when under pressure.
- Some areas of the brain are pleasure related and when stimulated give the feeling of relaxation and reduced anxiety.
- Efforts to provide treatment using NRT have also lead to incidents of nicotine gum addiction amongst others.
Related Information
- Nicotine Replacement Therapy
- Quit Smoking Withdrawal Symptoms
- Quitting Smoking Tips for Dealing with Cravings
Return from Nicotine Addiction to Stop Smoking Programs Home
*Nicotiana Tabacum image copyright Joachim Müllerchen.
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify the image under the GNU Free Documentation License.
