« Home | How do icebreaker ships cut through the ice withou... » | What's the difference between 'C' and 'CE' on calc... » | Why do girls almost always have better handwriting... » | Is it possible to sell my body to science, or can ... » | Who invented Play-Doh? » | Why is it that when I have a cold frequently only ... » | Why do most UFO sightings happen in the United Sta... » | What is the oldest university in the world? » | Who was the first rapper? » | Who invented the cell phone? » 

Saturday, January 19, 2008 Bookmark Now! | Email to a friend  

Is nicotine really as addictive as heroin?

Contrary to the sworn testimony of tobacco executives in 1994, nicotine is highly addictive. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, withdraw symptoms include "irritability, craving, cognitive and attentional deficits, sleep disturbances, and increased appetite." So, it's definitely addictive, but is it as addictive as heroin?

Britain's Royal College of Physicians has argued that nicotine should be treated like a controlled substance because "it's a powerful addictive substance like heroin and cocaine." The same article mentions that Britain's Tobacco Manufacturers Association disagrees. The tobacco group points out that unlike with hard drugs, people are able to give up tobacco every day.

Nevertheless, the American Heart Association states there are similarities between tobacco and heroin in terms of the "pharmacologic and behavioral characteristics that determine...addiction." Canada's Federal Health Department also agrees. Health Canada explains that "nicotine causes chemical or biological changes in the brain," a psychoactive effect. "Although it is less dramatic than heroin or cocaine, the strength of the addiction is just as powerful."

The moral? Don't smoke. If you do, seek help quitting. The benefits of quitting are both immediate and long term. For example, a "35-year-old man who quits smoking will, on average, increase his life expectancy by 5.1 years."

source: ask.yahoo.com

Add to: Oneview Add to: Folkd Add to: Yigg Add to: Linkarena Add to: Digg Add to: Del.icio.us Add to: Reddit Add to: Simpy Add to: StumbleUpon Add to: Slashdot Add to: Netscape Add to: Furl Add to: Yahoo Add to: Spurl Add to: Google Add to: Blinklist Add to: Blogmarks Add to: Technorati Add to: Newsvine Add to: Blinkbits Add to: Ma.Gnolia



Share on Facebook Read the whole Blog

Receive post updates by Email

Bookmarks