Nicotine demonstrates the qualities and characteristics of any addicting drug. For instance, it has been found that within the nucleus accumbens (the pleasure center within the brain) there exist actual nicotine receptors – areas on the surface of neural cells which act as a form of unique loading-docking bays specifically designed and configured for the molecule of nicotine itself. When activated by nicotine, these receptors then respond by releasing other neurotransmitters, which in turn initiate and habituate a stimulus of corresponding pleasure.

Moreover, nicotine activates dopamine systems within the brain, neurotransmitters which are directly responsible for mediating the pleasure response. Therefore, by initiating dopamine systems, nicotine shares a common mechanism of action with opiates, cocaine and other addicting stimulants. Such response systems become self reinforcing, and thus self addicting. But when the brain is flooded with unusually large quantities of such drugs, the nerve cells respond by cutting down the number of available receptors, and consequently, more and more of the drug is needed to give the same pleasurable effect. Hence the addiction builds.

But perhaps even more importantly, it has been demonstrated that nicotine interferes with acetylcholine, the major neurotransmitter of the brain involved in cognition, memory, integration and retrieval of information.

Indeed, where acetylcholine molecules bind to neural receptors, so does nicotine competitively adhere, thus subverting the brain’s natural chemical controls, and subsequently, reducing memory function and cognition.

Because of its natural competitiveness in the brain, nicotine is an alarmingly brutal chemical, directly interfering with and reducing cognition, reducing the number of neural receptors, and thus the chance of learning. Nicotine directly inhibits the ongoing integration of information, actually undermining our learning and understanding of things, or at least making the process of learning more difficult. Most simply, as nicotine directly interferes with the major neurotransmitter of the brain (acetylcholine), all learning is temporarily inhibited and retarded! That’s a good reason all by itself not to smoke, and indeed, to stop children from smoking!

Thus, the smoking habit delivers nicotine to the brain where it actually occupies neural sites which radically subverts our natural neurochemistry, not only creating a pleasure response which clearly promotes physical disease, but critically interferes with cognition and learning as well. Smoking is most certainly self destructive, appearing to be a habit which ultimately makes us physically unhealthy, while disabling our cognitive abilities to learn from the wrongs it has caused!

Why do people continue to smoke?

When large numbers of people smoke a vegetable or plant derivative - marijuana, hashish, and opium are example - it's always to get a kick of a "psychoactive" drug, a drug that affects their mood. Tobacco is the only plant that contains nicotine, a powerful psychoactive drug. Inhaling cigarette smoke, the smoker gets an immediate concentrated dose of nicotine in his blood stream. It hits his brain within six seconds - twice as fast as mainlining heroin.

How does the habit take hold?

It is now generally recognized by experts in this field that nicotine is capable of producing dependence. Though it often makes novice smokers ill, it also produces relaxing, stimulating, or other pleasurable or rewarding effects in the user. With repeated use. smokers become tolerant to the disagreeable effects and no longer become nauseated or ill when they smoke. Therefore, the rewarding effects become much more significant and can lead to compulsive use. The resulting dependence on nicotine - both psychological and physical - is responsible for the persistence of the cigarette habit even in smokers who know that it may be (or is ) harming their health.