Tobacco: the acceptable drug

BY: LISSANN LICHTENSTEIN

What is tobacco?

Commonly used to describe tobacco products

E.g. cigarettes, pipe tobacco, chew, etc.
Tobacco plant
nicotiana rustica (wild tobacco)
nicotiana tabacum (cultivated tobacco)
History of tobacco

Began growing 8,000 yrs ago

Tobacco plant is native to the Americas
mid-1500s: used as medicine
Colic, hysteria, toothaches, worms, bad breath
Popularity and acceptance unanimously grew
As well as cancer rates
1929: first published paper linking cancer and tobacco use
Tobacco company Brown & Williamsons general counsel
wrote in 1963, "nicotine is addictive. We are, then, in
the business of selling nicotine, an addictive drug effective
in the release of stress mechanisms.
Mid-1960s: mild
regulations for caution
labels
1970: strong warning
from surgeon general
on packs
Rise of use regardless
Late 80s-90s: tobacco
use not allowed on
flights
Effects on the brain

Nicotine reaches brain in a few seconds when

smoking tobacco
Acts as a stimulant for the neurons.
By inhaling tobacco smoke, the average smoker takes
in 12 milligrams of nicotine per cigaretteA typical
smoker will take 10 puffs on a cigarette over a period
of 5 minutes that the cigarette is lit. Thus, a person
who smokes about 1 packs (30 cigarettes) daily gets
300 "hits" of nicotine to the brain each day.
Source: NIDA site
 Immediately after exposure to nicotine, there is a "kick"
caused in part by the drugs stimulation of the adrenal glands
and resulting discharge of epinephrine (adrenaline). The rush
of adrenaline stimulates the body and causes an increase in
blood pressure, respiration, and heart rate.
Source: NIDA site
After a person takes in nicotine a few times, the brain adjusts
to the new levels of these neurotransmitters. Without nicotine,
the brain suddenly has a lower level of the neurotransmitters
it has become used to. The addict feels uncomfortable
withdrawal symptoms. The brains of addicts develop a set
"necessary" level of nicotine. The addict will adjust his
smoking or chewing to maintain the brains desired level of
nicotine.
Short-term effects

Bad breathe
Yellowed/stained teeth
Smokers cough/ hairy tongue
Elevated heart rate
Nicotine addiction
Decreased lung capacity
Increased stress
Long-term effects

Various cancers
Heart disease
Lung disease
Birth defects and reproductive damage
Prematurely wrinkled skin
Weakened immune system
Cigarette
smoking kills
an estimated
440,000 U.S.
citizens each
year
more than
alcohol, illegal
drug use,
homicide,
suicide, car
accidents, and
AIDS combined.
Secondhand smoke

Both smoke from the implement and exhaled from

the user
Since 1964, approximately 2,500,000 nonsmokers
have died from health problems caused by exposure
to secondhand smoke.
Children: Ear infections, more severe asthma
attacks, increased chance of SIDS
Adults: Heart disease, Lung cancer, stroke
Tobacco Research

role of genetics in addiction

Twin studies indicate that approximately 4070 percent of a
persons risk of becoming addicted to nicotine depends on his or
her genes. Although complex diseases like addiction involve large
numbers of genes interacting with a wide variety of environmental
factors, the contribution of a particular gene can be substantial.
Genetic variants associated with nicotine metabolism,
for example, have been shown to influence how people
smoke.
genetic markers can also help predict whether
medications (like bupropion) will effectively help a
smoker quit.
e-Cigarettes

battery-operated
devices designed to
deliver nicotine with
flavorings and other
chemicals to users in
vapor instead of smoke.
Not necessarily safer
then smoking traditional
cigarettes
Treatment for quitting

Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRTs)

Nicotine patches and gum
First pharmacological treatment for quitting tobacco approved
by the FDA
Non-nicotine replacement Medications
E.g. the antidepressant bupropion (Zyban)
Chantix
Behavioral Treatments
SL County Statistics
Cigarette Smoking
Adult Cigarette Smoking (2015)1
9.8% (County)
9.1% (State)
Youth Cigarette Smoking in Grades 8, 10, 12 (2015)5
3.7%
3.4%
Pregnant Women Smoking (2014)12
4.5%
4.2%
Use of Electronic Cigarettes and SmokelessTobacco
Youth Experimentation with Electronic Cigarettes in Grades 8, 10, 12 (2015)5
27.9%
22.9%
Youth Use of Electronic Cigarettes in Grades 8, 10, 12 (2015)5
12.3%
10.5%
Adult Experimentation with Electronic Cigarettes (2014-2015)1
15.1%
13.2%
Adult Use of Electronic Cigarettes (2013-2015)1
5.8%
4.7%
Adult Use of Chewing Tobacco, Snuff, or Snus (2014-2015)1
2.7%
2.9%
Secondhand Smoke Exposure
Adults Exposed to Secondhand Smoke Indoors or Outdoors in the Past Week (2015)1
34.9%
34.5%
Quit Service Utilization
Number of New Quit Line Registrations (FY16)2
1,845
4,681
Number of New Online Coaching Enrollments (FY16)2
379
835
Anti-tobacco Ad Recall
Anti-tobacco Ad Recall in the Past Month (2015)1
71.8%
70.7%
Bibliography

Long Term Effects." In The Know Zone. N.p., n.d. Web.

"Secondhand Smoke (SHS) Facts." Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 21 Feb. 2017.
Web.
SMOKINGS IMMEDIATE EFFECTS ON THE BODY (2009): n. pag.
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Web.
"Short Term Effects." In The Know Zone. N.p., n.d. Web.
Tobacco History." In The Know Zone. N.p., n.d. Web.
Tobacco In The Brain." In The Know Zone. N.p., n.d. Web.
TOBACCO PREVENTION AND CONTROL IN UTAH (2016): n. pag.
Utah Department of Health Tobacco Prevention and Control Program.
Web.
Vaifanua, Tamara. "Study Finds E-cigarette Use among Utah Teens Is
on the Rise."Fox13now.com. N.p., 31 Aug. 2015. Web.
What is Tobacco?" In The Know Zone. N.p., n.d. Web.
NIDA sources

Are There Effective Treatments for Tobacco

Addiction?" National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). N.p.,
n.d. Web.
Are There Safe Tobacco Products?" National Institute on
Drug Abuse (NIDA). N.p., n.d. Web.
How Does Tobacco Deliver Its Effects?" National Institute
on Drug Abuse (NIDA). N.p., n.d. Web.
New Frontiers in Tobacco Research" National Institute on
Drug Abuse (NIDA). N.p., n.d. Web.
What Are the Medical Consequences of Tobacco
Use?" National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). N.p., n.d.
Web.