Issue No. 69 - March - April 2012 - DOH

Muslim HEALTHWhy Nicotine is So AddictivebyTATO M. USMAN, MD, MPAIMDOH Center for Health Development - Autonomous Region in Muslim MindanaoAddiction is defined as compulsiveuse despite damage to the individual orsociety and drug-seeking behavior cantake precedence over important priorities.It persists despite a desire to quit or evenrepeated attempts to quit.Nicotine is an alkaloid found in thenightshade family of plants that constitutesapproximately 0.6%-3.0% of the dry weightof tobacco, with biosynthesis taking place inthe roots and accumulation occurring in theleaves.Nicotine is the tobacco plant'snatural protection from being eaten byinsects. Its widespread use as a farm cropinsecticide is now being blamed for killinghoney bees. A super toxin, drop for drop it ismore lethal than strychnine or diamondbackrattlesnake venom and three times deadlierthan arsenic.One cigarette may have approximately1-1.5 mg nicotine (depending on thebrand) and it is only one of more than 7,000chemicals such as carcinogens (cancercausingagents), toxic metals and poisongases) found when tobacco is lighted up.Nicotine is a tertiary amine thatresults in addiction. According to John R.Polito, author of Freedom from Nicotine -The Journey Home, it is hard to understandnicotine addiction, or any form of drugaddiction for that matter, without a basicunderstanding of the brain's primarymotivation neurotransmitter, dopamine.The brain's dopamine pathways serve as abuilt-in teacher. It uses a desire, yearningNicotine: C 10H 14N 2. Photo grabbed from the or wanting sensation to get our attentionwhen it wants to pound home a survivallesson necessary to keep us humans aliveand thriving.When we feel hunger ourdopamine pathways are being stimulated,teasing us with anticipation "wanting"for food. If kept waiting, the anticipationmay build into urges or even full-blowncraves. Each bite we eat further stimulatesdopamine flow until stomach peptides atlast tell the brain we're full and wantingbecomes satisfied.But our brain does not stop withsimply creating and satisfying wantingassociated with species survival eventssuch as eating, drinking liquids, bonding,nurturing, accomplishment and sex. Itmakes sure that we don't forget them, thatin the future we pay close attention to theseactivities.The brain associates and recordshow each particular wanting was satisfied inthe most durable, high-definition memorythe mind may be capable of generating. Itdoes so by hard-wiring dopamine pathwayneuro-transmissions into our consciousmemory banks (in the prefrontal cortex ofthe brain), where each is linked to the eventthat satisfied dopamine pathway wanting,March - April 2012 I HEALTHbeat 37