Nicotine addiction
Nicotine Addiction
Nicotine addiction (pronunciation: /nɪˈkoʊtiːn əˈdɪkʃən/) is a chronic, relapsing disease defined by a dependence on nicotine, a potent psychoactive substance found primarily in tobacco.
Etymology
The term "nicotine" is derived from the scientific name of the tobacco plant, Nicotiana tabacum, which in turn is named after Jean Nicot, the French ambassador to Portugal who introduced tobacco to France in 1559. The term "addiction" comes from the Latin addictus, which means "enslaved by" or "bound to".
Definition
Nicotine addiction is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences. It is considered a brain disorder, as it alters the way the brain works and changes the brain's neural circuits.
Symptoms
Symptoms of nicotine addiction include:
- Cravings for nicotine
- Withdrawal symptoms when nicotine is not consumed
- Continued use of nicotine despite health problems
- Giving up social or recreational activities in order to use nicotine
Causes
Nicotine addiction is primarily caused by the consumption of products containing nicotine, such as cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, and snuff. Nicotine is highly addictive due to its effects on the brain's reward system.
Treatment
Treatment for nicotine addiction often involves a combination of medication, behavioral therapies, and self-help groups. Medications used to treat nicotine addiction include nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs), such as nicotine gum, patches, inhalers, and lozenges, as well as non-nicotine medications, such as bupropion and varenicline.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Nicotine addiction
- Wikipedia's article - Nicotine addiction
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski