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 />
• Cigarette smok<strong>in</strong>g triggers marked decrease <strong>in</strong><br />
the levels <strong>of</strong> monoam<strong>in</strong>e oxidase (MAO), an<br />
important enzyme that is responsible for the<br />
breakdown <strong>of</strong> dopam<strong>in</strong>e.<br />
• <strong>Nicot<strong>in</strong>e</strong> itself does not dramatically alter MAO<br />
levels.<br />
• The decrease <strong>in</strong> two forms <strong>of</strong> MAO (A and B)<br />
results <strong>in</strong> higher dopam<strong>in</strong>e levels and may be<br />
another reason that smokers cont<strong>in</strong>ue to<br />
smoke—to susta<strong>in</strong> the high dopam<strong>in</strong>e levels<br />
that lead to the desire for repeated drug use.
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