Nicotine: general information, effects, and cultural aspects

Nicotine

Regarded extremely addictive, nicotine happens to be one of the most widely used drugs by virtue of being contained in tobacco. In this text, I discuss this psychoactive drug. In so doing, I amongst other things highlight the drug's street names, typical users as well as the effect the same has on users. Further, I discuss the drug's cultural aspects and medicinal usage.

Nicotine: General Information

According to Coon and Mitterer (2010), "nicotine is a natural stimulant found mainly in tobacco." The drug is delivered to the brain by sniffing, chewing or smoking tobacco. In that regard, it is important to note that each cigarette stick smoked delivers approximately 1 to 2 milligrams of nicotine to the lungs of a smoker. However, the amount of nicotine contained in each cigarette stick is usually much higher standing at approximately 10 milligrams. The reason for the much lower amount of nicotine absorbed in the lungs on smoking a single cigarette can be explained by the fact that only a portion of smoke from each puff is inhaled by the smoker. As Coon and Mitterer (2010) note, nicotine is sometimes used as an insecticide given its toxic nature. As a matter of fact, exposure to significant amounts of pure nicotine (i.e. A drop) is enough to cause death. Other lethal effects of large doses of nicotine include but are not limited to respiratory failure, convulsions as well as muscle tremors (Coon and Mitterer, 2010).

Nicotine's Street Names

Just like any other psychoactive drug, nicotine does have a number of street names. According to Ritter and Lampkin (2011), "street names for nicotine include smokes, fags, cigs, and cancer sticks." However, it should be noted that in most cases, the street name used to refer to the drug largely differs depending on the location or locality.

Medicinal Use

Regardless of its documented harmful effects, nicotine has variously been used in the medical circles. To begin with, the drug according to Earhart (2010) is sometimes used to lessen or reduce withdrawal symptoms for individuals keen on quitting smoking. However, it is important to note that in this case, the same is administered to such individuals in small regulated amounts over time through such mediums as skin patches, lozenges or even nasal sprays (Earhart, 2010). Further, it has been noted in some forums that nicotine can indeed be utilized in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. In brief, Parkinson's disease is essentially a brain disorder that occasions some coordination, movement as well as walking difficulties. In that regard, it is important to note that nicotine according to Bernhard (2011) "is often used as an anti-inflammatory therapy to treat certain diseases, including ulcerative colitis, Parkinson's disease, and cutaneous inflammation."

Mental and Physical Effects of Nicotine

As I have already noted in the introductory section, nicotine is extremely addictive. To begin with, it can be noted that on inhaling the drug, the same is carried to the brain on entering the bloodstream. It is from here that nicotine disrupts a number of neurotransmitters' existing natural balance. As Padwa and Cunningham (2010) note, the effect of nicotine on acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter) leads to a significant increase in aggression, blood pressure and heart rate of an individual. The drug's other psychological effects include enhanced blood sugar levels, rate of heartbeat and blood pressure. The latter effects according to Padwa and Cunningham (2010) are as a result of epinephrine releases triggered by nicotine. The authors in this case also note that nicotine is also an appetite suppressant. However, the effects of nicotine cannot be fully appreciated without mentioning the role the drug plays in dopamine release. In basic terms, dopamine is largely responsible for the calm and relaxed feeling individuals experience after smoking. In the opinion of Padwa and Cunningham (2010), this is the reason why smokers consider quitting smoking an uphill task. Indeed, Coon and Mitterer (2010) note that The National Institute on Drug Abuse cites some other effects of nicotine withdrawal as irritability, insomnia, headaches etc. In the author's opinion, nicotine withdrawal symptoms are regarded more severe than those of heroin.

Cultural Aspects and Typical Users of Nicotine