Smoking - Things to know about nicotine addiction

Smoking

Things to know about nicotine addiction

Here are some of the things scientists have found out about nicotine addiction.

Nicotine is just as addictive as

opiates
Opiates are medicines made from opium, which occurs naturally in poppy plants. Opiates work well to relieve pain. But you can get addicted to them if you don't use them correctly.

heroin, cocaine or alcohol.

Source:
Stolerman IP, Jarvis MJ.
The scientific case that nicotine is addictive.
Psychopharmacology. 1995; 117: 2-10, discussion 14-20.

¹ That's why it's so easy to get hooked.
Even if you smoke just a few cigarettes a week, you can get addicted to nicotine in a few weeks or even days.

Source:
DiFranza JR, Savageau JA, Rigotti NA, et al.
Development of symptoms of tobacco dependence in youths: 30 month follow up data from the DANDY study.
Tobacco Control. 2002; 11: 228-235.

² The more cigarettes you smoke, the more likely you are to become addicted.

Source:
Kandel DB, Chen K.
Extent of smoking and nicotine dependence in the United States: 1991-1993.
Nicotine and Tobacco Research. 2000; 2: 263-274.

³
As many as 8 in 10 smokers say they have trouble cutting down on the amount of cigarettes they smoke.

Source:
American Lung Association.
Trends in tobacco use.
December 2006. Available at http://www.lungusa.org (accessed on 20 November 2008).

⁴ This is a sign of addiction.
The younger you are, the more likely you are to become addicted to nicotine. If you're a teenager, your risk is especially high.

Source:
Kandel DB, Chen K.
Extent of smoking and nicotine dependence in the United States: 1991-1993.
Nicotine and Tobacco Research. 2000; 2: 263-274.

³
Girls seem to become addicted to nicotine faster than boys do.

Source:
DiFranza JR, Savageau JA, Rigotti NA, et al.
Development of symptoms of tobacco dependence in youths: 30 month follow up data from the DANDY study.
Tobacco Control. 2002; 11: 228-235.

²

Sources for the information on this page:

Stolerman IP, Jarvis MJ.The scientific case that nicotine is addictive.Psychopharmacology. 1995; 117: 2-10, discussion 14-20.

DiFranza JR, Savageau JA, Rigotti NA, et al.Development of symptoms of tobacco dependence in youths: 30 month follow up data from the DANDY study.Tobacco Control. 2002; 11: 228-235.

Kandel DB, Chen K.Extent of smoking and nicotine dependence in the United States: 1991-1993.Nicotine and Tobacco Research. 2000; 2: 263-274.

American Lung Association.Trends in tobacco use.December 2006. Available at http://www.lungusa.org (accessed on 20 November 2008).

This information was last updated on May 11, 2009

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.

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