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Tobacco use is the top preventable cause of disease and death in the United States. Cigarettes cause more than 480,000 premature deaths in the United States each year. That’s about 1,300 deaths every day.
Once they start smoking, people usually have a hard time quitting. This is because of the addictive chemical nicotine, a main ingredient in tobacco. But what makes nicotine so addictive?
Brain training
Consuming nicotine—through regular cigarettes or vaping—leads to the release of the chemical dopamine in the human brain. As with many drugs, dopamine prompts or “teaches” the brain to repeat the same behavior (such as using tobacco) over and over. This is also known as reinforcement.
But here’s the catch: The brain gets a dopamine “hit” from nicotine every time a person takes a puff on a cigarette or inhales vapor from an e-cigarette that contains nicotine.
Vicious cycle
A typical smoker takes 10 or more puffs on each cigarette, so a person who smokes about one pack (25 cigarettes) daily gets at least 250 “hits” every day. That’s a lot of “teaching” the brain to keep using nicotine. And repeated use increases the risk of addiction.
Whether a person consumes nicotine through tobacco or vaping, its reinforcing effects might be much more harmful than the user imagines.
This might also be why teens who try vaping (using electronic devices like JUUL) often switch to regular cigarettes—to get more and more of the nicotine that the brain now craves.
Cite this article
The National Institute on Drug Abuse Blog Team. (2019, February 4). Why Is Nicotine So Addictive? . Retrieved from https://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/post/why-nicotine-so-addictive on
Comments
It’s great that you care so much about your dad. Keep trying to talk to him! Figuring out how to help someone quit smoking can be tricky. But there are things you can do. Listen without making judgments. Suggest that he talk to a doctor about finding help. Share scientific information about what smoking can do to a person. Get the latest on how smoking affects the brain and body here: https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts. Once your dad understands how smoking affects the brain, body, and life, it might open his eyes.
Hi nevea. We’re so glad to hear that you care for your family and want them to stop smoking. It can be hard to watch someone you care for have problems with smoking. You want to help, but you’re not sure how. A good first step might be to talk with them about your concerns. You could also talk with a trusted adult like a coach, teacher, or mentor for advice. If you want to share scientific information about what tobacco and nicotine from cigarettes can do to a person, you can get the facts here: https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/tobacco-nicotine-e-cigarettes.
It’s very brave of you to want to quit. For advice, please check out our blog on this topic: https://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/post/you-said-it-i-know-someone-who-sta....
Also, we recommend you talk with an adult you trust, like a parent, teacher, coach, or counselor. When and if you’re ready to seek professional help, you can find treatment in your area by calling 1-800-662-4357 (toll-free) or visit this website and enter your location: https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/. This free service is available 24/7/365. We wish you the best.
It’s great that you care so much about your brother. Figuring out how to help someone who is using drugs can be tricky. You want to help, but you’re not sure how. You could start by sharing your concerns with him, because vaping can have serious consequences. Listen to him without making judgments. And share scientific information about what drugs can do to a person. Get the latest on how drugs affect the brain and body here: https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts and https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/tobacco-nicotine-e-cigarettes.
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