Nicotine
Street
Terms:
Cigs,
Butts, chew, dip, coffin nails, cancer sticks
Nicotine
is one of the most addictive substances known to man. This
powerful and very fast acting drug is the chemical which causes
addiction to cigarettes.
Effects
of Nicotine: Facts
- 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 stimultes 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 Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
have also lead to incidents of nicotine gum addiction and
other nicotine addictions.
Nicotine
withdrawal
is a term used to describe the effects felt by a person who is
nicotine dependent and suddenly stops or significantly reduces
his/her nicotine intake. Since smoking cigarettes is the most
popular form of nicotine use, the effects of nicotine withdrawal
have been most commonly observed in people who are in the
process of quitting smoking. Symptoms can include craving
cigarettes, becoming irritable, intense headaches and increased
blood pressure. Persons who have smoked a higher number of
cigarettes or for a longer period of time are more likely to
experience these symptoms, although almost all people who try to
‘kick the habit’ suffer some form of withdrawal symptoms
from the drug.
When
regular smokers quit, they often have strong cravings when they
are placed in situations associated in their minds with smoking
(e.g. leaving home in the morning, on a coffee break, etc). The
most common symptoms of nicotine withdrawal are impaired
concentration, irritability, tension, disturbed sleep or
drowsiness, intense longing for a cigarette/nicotine, headaches,
and an increased appetite leading to weight gain. Sometimes
people can experience nicotine withdrawal when cutting down to
light cigarettes or cutting down the number smoked.
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out more about
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(Liquid Ecstasy)
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the Counter drugs
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