PWS Visser 2018-2019

smoking addiction Page 02
1. WHAT IS A SMOKING ADDICTION?
1.1 WHAT IS ADDICTION?
An addiction is a state in which a person
is mentally or physically dependent on
something. This can be a habit, an
action, a feeling or a substance. This
usually goes at the expense of other
activities, since you cannot stop this
addiction easily. We can divide
addictions into two groups: a habit
addiction or a substance addiction. A
habit addiction is when a person does a
specific activity that gives them a kick
and makes them feel good. Examples of
these habits are: gaming, sex, gambling
and shopping. A substance addiction is
when a person is addicted to one or
more substances. People who have a
substance addiction are not addicted to
the kick, but the substance has a direct
influence on the brain, that is why these
substances are also called psychoactive
substances. Psychoactive substances
can also be divided in three groups:
- Stimulating substances: cocaine,
nicotine
- Numbing substances: alcohol, opium
- Psychedelic substances: XTC, LSA
The most common addictions are nicotine
and alcohol. In the Netherlands,
600.000 people have a tobacco
addiction and 480.000 people have an
alcohol addiction This indicates that a
smoking addiction is a big problem in the
Netherlands.
25% of the Dutch population above the
age of 15 smokes, whereof most are
addicted as well. The habit of smoking
and the nicotine are the cause of the
addiction. The nicotine in the tobacco
works as a mental and physical
addiction. Nicotine stimulates the
production of dopamine which causes a
moment of joy and delight. This shows
that there is a relation between
dopamine and the reward center in the
brain. When someone experiences a
moment of joy the brain produces
dopamine, this happens
O when brain wants you eat, another
drink, moment have sex, of exercise, joy
and the do person drugs and will when
repeat you the smoke. same action.
After this, Thethe
brain will produce dopamine again and
this can cause an addiction. (The brain
links fun situations with lighting a
cigarette. That's why you also see many
people smoking at a party.)