Free Essay

Tobacco a a Stimulant

In:

Submitted By dorinanik
Words 361
Pages 2
Tobacco
Tobacco is a nervous system stimulant that triggers complex biochemical and neurotransmitter disruptions. In consumption it may be in the form of cigarettes smoking, snuffing, chewing or dipping tobacco. Much of the desire to continue using tobacco, regardless of the health risks, lies in it's most active ingredient nicotine and its effects on the brain. * Neurotransmitters
Nicotine affects the brain by mimicking neurotransmitters. Nicotine mainly mimics two neurotransmitters called acetylcholine and dopamine. 1. Acetylcholine
Once nicotine enters the body and makes its way to the brain through the blood stream, one of the main areas that it can attach itself to is the receptor sites for acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter responsible for a variety of bodily operations including breathing, heart rate, muscle movement and cognition. Nicotine increases the activity of these receptor sites, which is why many smokers feel an increase of energy or an increase in ability to concentrate directly after smoking a cigarette. 2. Dopamine Nicotine locks into dopamine receptor sites. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter most known for feeling pleasure. It is commonly referred to as the "reward pathway" of the brain. Dopamine is designed to release a good feeling every time you do something that benefits the body such as eating or exercising. This reinforces the mind to want to repeat the action at a later time. The nicotine in tobacco products creates this same pleasurable feeling, reinforcing the need to continue smoking or using other tobacco products. * Endorphins Nicotine can also trigger the brain to release endorphins. Endorphins are proteins that act as natural pain medicine for the body. The more nicotine that enters the blood stream, the greater potential for endorphins to be released.

Tolerance/Withdrawal With so many positive feelings associating themselves with nicotine use, the brain begins to become dependent on the product to keep the good feelings going. Over time the brain develops a tolerance to nicotine and requires more to achieve the same level of pleasure. This leads to addiction. If for some reason the nicotine is either temporarily or permanently held from the brain, the body will go into withdrawal symptoms. This includes depression, nausea, vomiting and irritability.

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Drugs

...perceptions and moods. They fall into three major categories – depressants, stimulants and hallucinogens (pg89). Some of these drugs remain legal while others are deemed illegal. Alcohol (depressant), nicotine (stimulant), and caffeine (stimulant) fall among the legal drug category. Alcohol was once prohibited by the 18th amendment denying the production, sale, and transport of intoxicating liquors and the Volsted Act that was designed to carry out this amendment. Police, courts, and prisons became overwhelmed and organized crime became more prevalent. The 18th amendment was repealed in 1933 by ratification of the 21st amendment, leading to the legalization of alcohol and protecting it by law. Nicotine has been around for thousands of years, its most commonly known form is tobacco (nicotiana tabacum). People have smoked, sniffed, and chewed tobacco; believing at one time that it had medicinal properties. In countries such as Japan and Russia there were harsh penalties for tobacco use and the Roman Catholic Church threatened excommunication to parishioners caught using it. Tobacco smoking became a fad among socialites and celebrities. Advertisements that glamorized smoking went up all over the country and smoking became a socially acceptable addiction. In more recent years stricter sanctions have been put in place, advertisements have been banned, and warning labels have been added to packaging to try and control tobacco use. Caffeine is not really looked at as a drug in our everyday society...

Words: 792 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Resting Metabolic Rates

...discontinuous gas exchange cycle. Discontinuous gas exchange cycle is characterized by an open phase in which O2 is allowed to enter and CO2 that has accumulated escapes from the cuticle. Certain interspecific differences in relation to size‐independent resting metabolic rate is dependent on a decreased resting metabolism shown in less active species rather than than species whose RMR accounts for a large amount of their daily metabolic costs. Organisms who allocate more energy towards activity have a higher resting metabolic rate in comparison to those who spend less energy actively moving. Certain physiological adaptations that increase the efficiency of metabolism during activity can result in an increased RMR due to the presence of stimulants. Stimulants such as epinephrine and caffeine can temporarily stimulate body functions and increase RMR, while certain drugs may either increase or...

Words: 529 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Stimulants Research Paper

...Stimulants are substances that will keep a person alert and active when they would otherwise be tired. Depressants do the opposite. They help someone calm down and relax. Both types of these drugs can be beneficial or detrimental, depending on how they are taken or on the dose. Caffeine is a stimulant and is the most widely used psychoactive drug in the world. It is used in many things, including: coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate, kola nuts, and some medicines. Caffeine can have many effects on the body's metabolism. It can also stimulate the central nervous system, which would make someone more alert and energetic. People tend to believe that the caffeine in what they are taking is actually beneficial, but that is not always the case. There...

Words: 2008 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Nicotine Research Paper

...it can also lead to other cancer-causing drugs. Some studies show that if there is less nicotine in a drug, the addictiveness in the drug decreases also. Nicotine is getting used in more and more substances, causing the amount of addicted people to increase as well. Another reason for research is to test to see if it could be helpful to and benefit people. So far, many studies have been conducted on nicotine, and no health benefits have been found. But, studying nicotine can help find a solution to addiction, and maybe potentially cause the opposite effects of what it does now. Nicotine, the chemical, is made from nitrogen, and can be found in plants like tobacco or it can be made synthetically. The scientific name of nicotine found in tobacco is Nicotiana tabacum. While tobacco is a stimulant, nicotine is both a stimulant and a sedative. Nicotine has an interesting effect on the body. Once in the body, it stimulates the adrenal gland, releasing adrenaline. Along with the release of adrenaline, the heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure increases. Nicotine also makes the pancreas produce less insulin which increases blood sugar and glucose levels. Last but not least, nicotine indirectly releases dopamine, a chemical that affects emotions, sensations of pleasure and pain, and movement. Nicotine is immensely addictive. This is because of the way it interacts with the brain. The moment that nicotine enters the bloodstream, it goes towards the brain and joins with nicotinic...

Words: 1134 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Smoking Nicotine Research Paper

...Smoking nicotine is the leading cause of preventable diseases/disability and premature death currently in the United States and other countries. (Hughes, 2003). It is a fact that smoking cigarettes or tobacco is deleterious to your health. There are endless problems that are caused or affected by smoking, including lung cancer, physical performance and even how it affects your family and friends. Nicotine is a drug and is highly addictive and can be toxic if ingested in high doses. Nicotine does not cause cancer—other chemicals are responsible for most of the severe health consequences of tobacco use. Nicotine is an active and addictive ingredient in tobacco. It is a mild central nervous system stimulant and a stronger cardiovascular system...

Words: 1271 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Psychological Effects of Drugs

...barbiturates, opiates, psychoactive drugs and as well as natural sources. A drug is a chemical substance that has known biological effects on humans. For this paper I will be discussing drugs under the three categories of being legal, illegal and controlled substances. The most common legal drugs I will discuss are caffeine, alcohol and nicotine. The more common illegal drugs that I will discuss are marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy and heroin. There are numerous controlled substances as well and it is defined as a drug or chemical that is regulated by the government. For controlled substances I will only be covering prescription pills. Legal Drugs Caffeine is a central nervous stimulant that can change drowsiness to alertness. According to (doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsm086) “It is the most widely consumed stimulant in the US and perhaps the world”. Many beverages contain caffeine such as coffee, tea, soft drinks and energy drinks. It is used mainly to restore mental alertness during drowsiness or fatigue and produces clearer flow of...

Words: 2693 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Alcohol Nicotine Research Paper

...Alcohol, nicotine and caffeine: the infamous chemical stimulants that most people are accustomed with today. It is therefore important to consider the period between the 16th and 18th century, whereby these substances grew in popularity and caused various changes to transpire in the societies that they entered. The following essay will discuss the causes and consequences of the growth in production and consumption of these substances, by looking specifically into alcohol, nicotine and caffeine. Alcohol has been a part of society for a much longer time than one would suspect. Wine was the first form of alcohol that was accepted in society as it was seen as a symbol of Christ’s sacrifice in biblical times (6000 B.C – 400 B.C) . Other alcoholic...

Words: 1180 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Black Worm Lab Report

...to either the low or high caffeine concentration had high pulse rates and the ones exposed to the low or high nicotine concentration had low pulse rates. The results show us how these drugs act as a stimulant on...

Words: 826 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs

...Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs The use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs has been going on for many years legally and illegally. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about 66% of people from the age of 12 or older reported in 2014 that they drank alcohol in the past 12 months, with 6.4% meeting the criteria for an alcohol use disorder (NIDA). A major cause of death in today’s time is drunk driving, about 5 thousand people die under the age of 21(NIDA). Among that same population, approximately 25.2% were also users of tobacco of some sort (NIDA). The use of other drugs, prescription and illegal, is at 10.2% (NIDA). One of the major causes of death is a result of alcohol. Ethyl alcohol or ethanol, better known as alcohol, is produced by the fermentation yeast (NIDA). It is a nervous system depressant which can be found many different beverages such as wine, beer, and other hard liquors. Depending on the amount consumed, it will have different effects on the body also depending on the persons weight, metabolism, amount of food eaten beforehand or during, and how fast the alcohol is consumed. The consumption of alcohol while consuming illicit drugs is very dangerous. With alcohol being a depressant and the drug (if it is a depressant) will make the depressant effect more intense will lead to memory loss, coma, or even death. On the other hand, if the drug is a stimulant it can alter your judgment of how intoxicated you really are since they have...

Words: 1662 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Psychoactive Drugs

...Over-prescribing of ADHD Medication to Children Lesley M. Thomas University of Houston- Clear Lake What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder? According to the National Library of Medicine, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder is defined as, “a problem of not being able to focus, being overactive, not being able to control behavior, or a combination of these.” (www.nlm.nih.gov) For a diagnosis of this disorder, generally referred to simply as ADHD, these issues must be out of the normal range for a person’s age and development. Although the majority of diagnoses are given to children and adolescents, there are also a vast number of ADHD cases diagnosed for adults. The purpose of my research paper is to offer background on this disorder, discuss the psychopharmacology of its treatment options, and to discuss whether ADHD medication is over-prescribed to children. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) states that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity has three different subtypes. Those subtypes are Predominantly Inattentive, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive, and a combination of the two. In order for the Predominantly Inattentive subtype to be used, at least six or more symptoms of inattention must be both present and persistent for at least six months. However, there must be fewer than six symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity. For usage of the Hyperactivity-Impulsivity subtype to be used, there must be a persistent presence of at least six...

Words: 3100 - Pages: 13

Premium Essay

Smoking

...EFFECTS OF SMOKING The World Health Organization defines smoking as an addiction activities. Smoking is a habit that favored some people in this modern age.Smoking is the inhalation of the smoke of burning tobacco encased in cigarettes, pipes, and cigars. Casual smoking is the act of smoking only occasionally, usually in a social situation or to relieve stress. A smoking habit is a physical addiction to tobacco products. Many health experts now regard habitual smoking as a psychological addiction, too, and one with serious health consequences. Firstly, there is no safe level of tobacco use. Nicotine, the active ingredient in tobacco, is inhaled into the lungs, where most of it stays. The rest passes into the bloodstream, reaching the brain in about 10 seconds and dispersing throughout the body in about 20 seconds. Depending on the circumstances and the amount consumed, nicotine can act as either a stimulant or tranquilizer. This can explain why some people report that smoking gives them energy and stimulates their mental activity, while others note that smoking relieves anxiety and relaxes them. Beside that, Some of the long-term effects of smoking. Smoking is often associated with diseases such as coronary heart disease, lung cancer, emphysema and chronic brokintis and otherwise the effects of smoking. Effects of smoking-induced diseases, human beings can not live any longer. Since people will be exposed to a variety of diseases with their hobby on cigarettes. Lastly, Smoking...

Words: 344 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs

...Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs: A Community Concern Introduction Alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use on college and university campuses poses tremendous concern for parents, students, higher education professionals, governmental officials, and the general community. No school is immune to substance use and resulting adverse consequences. Alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana are the most commonly used drugs on college campuses, but this use encompasses drugs of varying forms including amphetamine, caffeine, cocaine, hallucinogen, inhalants, opioid, phencyclidine, sedative, hypnotic, anxiolytic, steroids, and polysubstances. An essential feature of substance abuse is a maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to recurrent and clinically significant impairment or adverse consequences. Substance use and abuse are characterized by noted inefficiencies in life functioning, impaired relationships, high-risk behavior, and recurrent legal troubles. Substance dependency emerges from repeated use of the substance despite significant problems related to its use. Substance abuse appears to be etiologically linked to "complex interactions of genetic predisposition, psychological vulnerability, and sociocultural influences" (Archer and Cooper, p. 77). Extensive family history of addiction, poor self-esteem, negative emotional orientation, and few coping skills actively play a role in substance dependency. Skewed perceptions of social norms, peer values and behaviors, and pre-college...

Words: 1678 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Christopher Columbus's Impact On European Society

...Christopher Columbus’s discovery of the “New World” had an effect on European society’s economy, agriculture, industry and well-being of the people. During this period in Europe, wealth was equated to land (especially) and money. With the immense amount of gold and silver brought back to Europe as well as all of the newly claimed land, money and land values decreased in Europe causing inflation. Those in debt were finding the cost of their debt was shrinking, and those being paid this debt were finding that the amount they were paid was the correct amount in tangible money but less in value. This was called the Price Revolution. The typical family of peasants survived on grain; they didn’t have much after paying taxes, so they were making...

Words: 272 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Can or Cantabis

...find people smoking at the airport, in offices, and on trains. Since then tobacco smoking rates have dropped considerably in the past decades. We can attribute this to legislation and shifting public sentiment (Gitlow). Many individuals know someone who was put to an early grave because smoking. It’s a disaster that could have been prevented. And yet, our nation is prepared to once again head down the course of accepting another addictive drug, marijuana, as legal. It is as if we have to burn out fingers again to be convinced the stove is still hot (Gitlow). Tobacco and Marijuana are very similar in structure, effect, and cause bodily harm. Because of this, marijuana should not be legalized. The two drugs both look and are used in similar ways. Tobacco is a green, leafy plant that is grown in warm climates. After it is hand-picked, it is dehydrated, ground up, and used in different ways. It can be smoked in a cigarette, pipe, or cigar. It can be chewed (called smokeless tobacco or chewing tobacco) or sniffed through the nose (Mass. Department). Similarly, Marijuana is a combination of dried-out leaves, stems, flowers and seeds of the hemp plant. It is usually green, brown or gray in color (What is Marijuana). Marijuana is usually smoked as a cigarette (joint), but may also be smoked in a pipe. Less often, it is mixed with food and eaten or brewed as tea. Sometimes users open up cigars and remove the tobacco, replacing it with pot—making it a “blunt” (Marijuana). Joints and blunts...

Words: 795 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Neurodevelopmental and Neurocognitive Disorders

...theoretical models will as provide a valuable insight for the disorders. Neurodevelopmental disorders refer to a group of conditions that presents itself during the developmental period. These disorders impair development or the central nervous system causing an effect on emotions, learning ability, self-control and memory. The most common neurodevelopmental disorder is ADHD. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder causes children to have trouble paying attention, control impulsive behavior and overly active. There are no known causes or risk factors, however a recent twin research studies have linked ADHD with genes. Along with genes, possible contributors towards ADHD would be injury to the brain, environmental exposures, alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy, premature delivery, and low birth weight (CDC, 2016). The symptoms of this disorder appear in the early stages of childhood and if left untreated, it could worsen the child’s mental health. The DSM-5 brings clarity when diagnosing neurodevelopmental disorders. According to the DSM, several symptoms are required to be present by the age of 12. ADHD is broken down into two separate parts. ADHD predominantly inattentive presentation fails to pay...

Words: 603 - Pages: 3