Smoking Addiction

It is hard to quit smoking because tobacco contains an addictive substance called nicotine. Of the thousands of chemical components of tobacco, nicotine is the most addictive because it alters brain chemistry.

Every puff of cigarette smoke coats the lungs with nicotine. From the lungs, nicotine passes directly into the bloodstream and almost instantaneously affects the brain. The part of the brain which is most affected by nicotine is the midbrain -the mood and emotion control center.

This accounts for the pleasurable sensations that smokers associate with tobacco. It is also responsible for the anxiety that smokers feel when they try to quit smoking. Over time, the brain becomes accustomed to the stimulation that nicotine provides, and this is the reason that smoking is physically addictive.

Smoking is also a habit that becomes associated with certain that activities such as drinking coffee or going to the pub. Both the physical addiction to nicotine and the habit of smoking must be overcome to successfully quit smoking.

Nicotine Addiction

Nicotine does not affect everyone in the same way. Some people become more addicted to nicotine than others. This may be due to a genetic factor which determines how nicotine is metabolized. If the body metabolizes nicotine slowly, a nicotine addiction is less likely to develop.

Researchers have identified an enzyme which is responsible for breaking down nicotine in the liver. People who produce small amounts of this enzyme are less likely to become smokers, and if they do smoke, they smoke fewer cigarettes than those with normal levels of this enzyme.

Stress

Another factor that is related to nicotine addiction is the way an individual reacts to stress. Those with less tolerance to stress are more likely to smoke and become addicted to nicotine.

Because nicotine is an addictive substance, the longer it is used the harder it is to quit smoking. People who have been smoking for a relatively short period often find it easier to quit smoking than long-term smokers. However, anyone who has been smoking for 20 years or so is likely to be more aware of the negative health effects of smoking, and this may provide extra incentive to give up the habit.

Despite the fact that nicotine is addictive, millions of people have given up the habit. There are plenty of resources available for quitting smoking ranging from nicotine substitutes such as patches or gum, to behavior therapy which teaches smokers to break the habit of smoking.

Always remember that you can quit smoking if you are determined enough. Even if you have lapses on your road to freedom, you can get back on track and successfully quit the smoking habit.