THE PSYCHOLOGY BEHIND TOBACCO ADDICTION Jamie Man, Year 12, Churchill Tobacco
addiction
It stimulates the area of the brain that is associated
apparent in today’s society. According to Maureen
with pleasure and reward and can contribute to
Boyle, a public health advisor and director at the
feelings of happiness, alertness and motivation.
National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Addiction is a
Dopamine is secreted by the brain during healthy
biopsychosocial disorder,” which is a disorder that
activities (such as exercising, listening to music);
results from the complex interaction of biological,
however, drugs such as nicotine and cocaine can
psychological and social factors. Most widespread
cause intensive dopamine rushes that can leave
through cigarettes, tobacco kills more than 8
you wanting more after the first experience. It will
million people a year, over 7 million of those
force the brain to release excessive amounts of
deaths are from direct consumption whereas 1.2
dopamine, preventing the brain from reabsorbing
million are the result of non-smokers being
the dopamine, making the pleasurable experience
exposed to secondhand smoking. It was found
last longer than usual. In more serious cases
that two out of three smokers say they want to
where the use of tobacco is chronic or more
quit and about half try to quit each year, but very
severe, it can cause permanent changes to the
few are successful. Consequently, many smokers
molecular
become emotionally and physically dependent on
functioning of the brain, so normal activities—
nicotine over time, due to the effects it can have
such as gaming and exercise—do not produce the
on our behaviour, mood, and emotions.
same amounts of dopamine that they used to.
Nicotine
addiction
in
is
tobacco
a
is
common
the
main
addictive
High
and
neurochemical
dopamine
levels
can
structure
affect
and
dopamine
chemical that causes a rush of adrenaline when
receptors in a way that makes you lose interest in
absorbed in the bloodstream or inhaled through
other
cigarette smoking. In addition, nicotine also
experience’, which can result in compulsive
triggers
levels.
smoking. Many people who have used tobacco
Dopamine is a type of neurotransmitter that your
regularly for weeks or longer will experience
nervous system uses to send messages between
physical and emotional symptoms of withdrawal
nerve cells. It is involved in neurological and
when they try to stop or greatly reduce the
psychological functioning and plays a major role
amount they use it. Some symptoms include
in the way we think and act. Dopamine is
irritability, nervousness, headaches, depression
involved in many bodily functions including
and trouble sleeping. Even if you were to stop
blood flow, memory & focus, mood & emotions
smoking for a long period of time, re-exposure to
and sleep.
smoking can trigger your desire and put you at
an
increase
in
dopamine
things
other
than
that
‘pleasurable
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