preview

Nicotine Addiction Research Paper

Better Essays

The Biological Aspects of Nicotine Addiction
Nicotine is the critical factor in tobacco smoke that dictates addiction and continued use of tobacco (Stolerman and Shoaib 1991; Belfour and Fagerstrom 1996; Benowita 1996; Rose and Corrigall 1997). Markou (2008) stated that “nicotine is one of the main psychoactive ingredients in tobacco that contributes to the harmful tobacco smoking habit (Stolerman & Jarvis 1995; Royal College of Physicians of London 2000) leading to high morbidity and mortality throughout the world (Murray & Lopez 1997).” Mayo and McGhee (2010) stated that “the complex behavioral phenomenon of drug addiction is ultimately a biological process, where repeated exposure to a drug alters the activity and metabolism of neurons that …show more content…

Mukherjee (2003) stated that “when tobacco is smoked, nicotine enters the bloodstream through the lungs and reaches the brain faster than the drugs that enter the body directly through the veins. When it is chewed or sniffed, nicotine passes through the mucosal membranes of the mouth or nose to enter the bloodstream. Nicotine can also enter the bloodstream by passing through the skin. Nicotine reaches the brain within seven seconds. The sudden burst of nicotine causes an instant high blood pressure which is caused by the stimulation of the adrenal glands resulting in discharge of epinephrine. The release of adrenaline causes a sudden release of glucose as well as increase in blood pressure, respiration and heart rate. In addition, nicotine indirectly causes release of dopamine in the brain regions that control pressure and motivation. Nicotine is distributed throughout the body and brain where it activates specific types of receptors known as cholinergic receptors (Mukherjee, …show more content…

(2015) reported that “nicotine acts via 3 major mechanisms, producing physiological and pathological effects on a variety of organ systems.
1. Ganglionic transmission.
2. Nicotine acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) on chromaffin cells via catecholamines.
3. Central nervous system (CNS) stimulation of nAChRs.
Brain imaging studies demonstrate that nicotine acutely increases activity in the prefrontal cortex and visual systems. There is release of a variety of neurotransmitters important in drug induced reward. Nicotine also causes an increases oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis, DNA damage, reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxide increase. nAChRs were originally thought to be limited to neuronal cells, however, studies have identified functional nAChRs. Actions on nicotine receptors produce a wide variety of acute and long-term effects on organ systems, cell multiplication and apoptosis, throughout the body (Mishra et al.,

Get Access