Smoking and nicotine
What is tobacco use disorder? What is nicotine?
the name of nicotine addiction
about 30% smokers become addicted
more than 80% relapse after a year of stopping smoking
nicotine is the substance in tobacco or vaping that causes a pleasurable effect
Why is nicotine so addictive? Why is addiction so easy?
legal so we can use them easily
also due to the triggers associated with it
What are triggers for smoking?
situations that trigger the urge to smoke
drinking coffee
taking breaks at work
talking on the phone
drinking alcohol
driving your car
spending time with friends
Where does nicotine work in the body?
nicotine receptors: nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
ligand gated ion channels
o so produce a fast signal
widely distributed in the CNS e.g neuromuscular junction
9 subunits identified
o alpha 7 and alpha4beta2 subtypes
How does nicotine produce its addictive properties?
effect on endogenous opioids
o stimulate release of these opioids
o both onto GABAergic neurons in the VTA and NAcc
nicotine receptors on dopamine neurons themselves
o when we take in nicotine these are stimulated
o dopamine neurons fire
o release dopamine in the NAcc
stimulates glutamatergic inputs as well
o further stimulates diopamine cell bodies to release more dopamine at the
NAcc
How and why does nicotine tolerance occur?
very rapidly
fast desensitization of nicotinic receptors
o especially alpha4beta2
half life is 2 hours
o inhail so straight into the blood stream
o buildup of nicotine over the day
o this changes the balance of how our nicotine receptors are working
o towards this inactive state over a prrolonged period of the day
o not getting the effect we need
o so increase the amount we smoke
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller rosiemalley. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $3.98. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.