Treatment of Nicotine Addiction in Primary Care
Treatment of Nicotine Addiction in Primary Care
Treatment of Nicotine Addiction in Primary Care
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Is <strong>Nicot<strong>in</strong>e</strong> Addictive?<br />
• Of primary importance to its addictive nature<br />
are f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs that nicot<strong>in</strong>e activates reward<br />
pathways—the bra<strong>in</strong> circuitry that regulates<br />
feel<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>of</strong> pleasure.<br />
• A key bra<strong>in</strong> chemical <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> mediat<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
desire to consume drugs is the neurotransmitter<br />
dopam<strong>in</strong>e, and research has shown that<br />
nicot<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong>creases levels <strong>of</strong> dopam<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong> the<br />
reward circuits.