Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

As a stimulant nicotine can heighten a person’s
mental focus and cognitive capability. However,
tolerance develops rapidly such that with continued
use (nicotine ADDICTION) this effect diminishes.
Nicotine, through its effect on acetylcholine in the
brain, activates the STRESS RESPONSE HORMONAL CAS-
CADE, increasing the flow of EPINEPHRINE and NORnicotine
345
cigarette and smoke it, which allows absorption
through the LUNGS.
The short-term health risks of narcotic use
include
• drowsiness
• reduced alertness or consciousness
• NAUSEA, VOMITING, and constipation
Health risks that may occur with long-term use
of narcotics include
• TOLERANCE, dependence, and addiction
• INFECTION through shared needles among those
who inject the drugs
• depressed respiration and RESPIRATORY FAILURE
leading to death as the boundary between
effective and toxic dosages grows increasingly
narrow
Narcotic antagonists are drugs that have greater
affinity for opiate receptors than do narcotics; they
are able to “bump” opioids from the receptors.
These drugs are often effective for treating narcotic
OVERDOSE and addiction. DETOXIFICATION from
narcotic addiction often entails numerous withdrawal
symptoms that are more severe the longer
a person has taken or abused the drugs.
COMMON NARCOTICS
Opiates (Narcotics of Natural Origin)
codeine
hydrocodone
morphine
paregoric (opium)
Synthetics (Opioids)
BUPRENORPHINE
dextropropoxyphene
meperidine
pentazocine
HEROIN
hydromorphone
oxycodone
thebaine
butorphanol
fentanyl
METHADONE
See also ANALGESIC MEDICATIONS; ILLICIT DRUG USE;
NARROW THERAPEUTIC INDEX (NTI); PRESCRIPTION DRUG
ABUSE; SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION; SUBSTANCE ABUSE
TREATMENT; WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME.
needle exchange programs
RISKS OF.
See INJECTING DRUGS,
nicotine The primary psychoactive DRUG in
tobacco and SMOKING CESSATION products. Nicotine
has stimulant as well as vasoconstrictive effects
and is highly addictive. Many health experts consider
nicotine at least as addictive as COCAINE and
HEROIN. Most tobacco users, particularly smokers,
attempt to quit numerous times before they
achieve long-term success. Nicotine crosses the
BLOOD–BRAIN BARRIER within seconds of tobacco
use, where it affects the presence and activity of
several BRAIN neurotransmitters, notably DOPAMINE
and acetylcholine. These actions set in motion a
cascade of events throughout the body that affect
multiple functions, ranging from mood to cardiovascular
activity.
Common sources of nicotine include
• cigarettes
• cigars
• NICOTINE REPLACEMENT products
• smokeless (chewing) tobacco
• snuff
HEALTH RISKS OF NICOTINE ABUSE
Short Term
activation of STRESS RESPONSE HORMONAL CASCADE
elevated BLOOD PRESSURE
increased HEART RATE
vasoconstriction
Long Term
ADDICTION
ARTERIOSCLEROSIS
chronic HYPERTENSION
health complications associated with tobacco use
inability to focus without nicotine in the BLOOD circulation