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Physical Addiction to Smoking
Nicotine, the highly addictive chemical found in cigarettes and other
tobacco products, is at the root of your physical addiction to smoking,
as well as the withdrawal symptoms you experience when you quit. And while
nicotine is a legal substance, The American Cancer Society reports that
it is just as addictive as heroin or cocaine.
When you puff on a cigarette, nicotine peaks in the bloodstream and enters
the brain within seconds. Once in the brain, nicotine triggers a number
of biochemical changes, including the release of adrenaline and dopamine.
The stimulating effects of smoking, such as feeling more focused and alert,
are caused by this shot of adrenaline. At the same time, the increase
in dopamine—the brain’s “pleasure chemical”—creates a feeling of satisfaction
and relaxation. But nicotine’s levels in the brain, as well as the pleasurable
effects the drug causes, dissipate within a matter of minutes. This fuels
the cycle of addiction, as you need another cigarette in order to keep
feeling good.
If you stop smoking and break the cycle, you will experience a number
of physical symptoms as your body withdraws from the drug. Nicotine withdrawal
begins quickly, usually starting within thirty minutes to an hour of the
last cigarette and peaking about 2 to 3 days later. Withdrawal symptoms
can last for a few days to several weeks and differ from person to person.
Common nicotine withdrawal symptoms include:
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