Nicotine or Nicotiana tabacum is the active substance found in tobacco plants. This substance can either be naturally sourced out or artificially produced in laboratories.
This substance is dangerous because it has both the properties of a stimulant and sedative. It can induce feelings of relaxation, improved concentration and mental alertness. One can get a substantial amount of this chemical by inhaling or chewing tobacco plants.
Nicotine is both used for medicinal and recreational purposes because of its properties. In the medical field, it has shown the potential of treating Parkinson’s disease, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease. In contrast, it is also misused and abused through smoking or injecting into the veins.
This substance is also known by several brand and street names. It is known by the following brand or chemical names: Destruxol orchid spray, Prostep, Niagara P.A. dust, Ortho N-4 dust, Flux MAAG, Nicotine Tartrate, and Nicotine Bitartrate.
Meanwhile, it also has street names in order to hide the true name of the substance whenever illegal transactions happen in the alleys or corners. Some of its known street names are Cigs, Snuff, Chew, Dip, Spit, Rollies, Fags, Cancer Sticks, Darts, Durries, and more.
When taken in raw material, this substance is just inside the dried tobacco plant. However, when extracted from tobacco plants, this substance takes an oily, colorless liquid form. This liquid gradually changes color from colorless to pale-yellow when exposed to air. As the air exposure lengthens, the color change further intensifies becoming brownish.
This plant alkaloid has a similar odor as fish oil. It has a flashpoint of 140 degrees Fahrenheit, so great care must be taken as this can ignite and cause a fire.
Nicotine, How They Work
This substance can either be injected or smoked to get inside the body. Once it gets inside, it dissolves in the blood and reaches the brain in around ten seconds. In the brain, it attaches itself to the brain receptor where the acetylcholine brain chemical is bounded.
This substance can quickly reach the blood-brain barrier (BBB) within eight to twenty seconds. This enables the effects to be quickly felt by the user after inhalation or injection.
The overall effect of this substance is to cause an adrenaline rush in the whole body. The blood vessels contract which causes an increase in blood pressure. Likewise, brain activity becomes really quick which increases focus and alertness.
Addiction and Dangers
This substance is dangerous because it has high addictive potential and dependence towards the users. Smoking is one of the leading causes of death among people in the United States. Approximately, 480,000 people die from smoking every year.
The side effects of this substance are easily felt by the person. A dose of 30 to 60 mg of Nicotine can cause sudden death due to the collapse of the respiratory system. Smoking or injecting this substance can cause both short and long-term effects.
Some of its common short-term effects are nausea, gut pains, salivation increases, and inflammation in the upper respiratory tract. Meanwhile, its long-term effects include an increase in blood sugar level, decreased flow of blood, thickening of the blood, hypothermia, lung failure and paralysis.
Furthermore, if one wishes to under a drug test, the idea of how long it stays inside the body is important. Typically, this substance has a half-life of 2 hours. Eventually, two hours after taking it in, the amount of substance inside the body becomes half of the original amount.
In addition, there are other variables affecting the time this substance is flushed out from the body. Some of these variables include health condition, metabolism, gene, and amount of nicotine taken.
In the blood and urine, this substance can still be detected within 1 to 3 days and 4 days after the last intake or inhalation. In the saliva, its presence can still be detected four days after the last inhalation or injection. Lastly, in hair follicles, a residue of the substance can still be detected within three months.
Medications and Treatments
Early detection of an overdose is best to have an early application of first aid treatment to stop further complications. To tell if an overdose has occurred, the following symptoms must be observed: increased blood pressure, over fatigue, dehydration, loss of appetite, nausea, blurred vision and slight hearing impairment.
Once an overdose has been detected, first aid treatment must be applied. First, let the patient ingest activated charcoal as it can absorb a large amount of the substance inside the body. Next, ensure the patient is not having any breathing difficulties. Lastly, call for immediate medical assistance to address the overdose.
Definitely, the first step in any treatment process is detoxification. However, in order to make the whole treatment program successful, the patient must be willing enough to undergo treatment.
During the detoxification process, the gradual or sudden cessation from the substance results to certain withdrawal effects. Some of the common withdrawal symptoms associated from this addiction include the difficulty of bowel movement, a sudden increase in weight, highly irritable, extreme shifts in mood, and craving for the substance.
After detoxification, the treatment proper starts and there are two options for this: nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and non-nicotine replacement therapy.
There are specific procedures and methods for each type of therapy. For the nicotine replacement therapy, there are five methods to choose from.
First, using a skin patch where it needs to stick to the skin for 24 hours. This process is done for around eight to twelve weeks.
Second, chewing nicotine gum which lasts for around 20 minutes. The patient must avoid caffeinated and soda drinks while the gum is inside the mouth.
Third, is taking in lozenges in 2 mg and 4 mg contents. The table is allowed to melt inside the patient’s mouth.
Fourth, is using nicotine cartridge inhalers. Lastly, using a nasal spray containing the alkaloid substance. The patient must apply little mists inside its nasal cavity. This session lasts for about six months.
For the non-nicotine replacement therapy, it has three medications to choose from.
First, is Varenicline which is used to inhibit the brain receptor responsible for detecting the pleasure from using the substance. The patient is strongly recommended to stop inhaling the substance for 7 to 12 days once this medication starts. Taking this medication must only last for 12 weeks.
Second, is Clonidine which is used to counter the sedative effect of nicotine addiction. This medication helps elevate blood pressure to a certain level which removes the state of sleepiness of the patient.
Third, is Bupropion which is used to medicate the induced depression from substance addiction.
Aside from these medications, therapies are incorporated into any treatment program. This is done to hasten the treatment process and reinforce positive behavior in the patient. The three common therapies included are Reward System, Recovery Groups, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Reward system aims to reinforce positive behavior in patients by providing rewards for every positive behavior or abstinence from the drug.
Recovery groups aim to enhance the social communication skills of the patient by including him in a group of people sharing the same condition. Each member gets a chance to talk and share one’s experiences in handling the condition.
Lastly, cognitive behavioral therapy is used to determine the unpleasant thoughts which trigger the craving for the substance. After determining these risk factors, the therapist will help the patient formulate positive means of coping when the trigger kicks in.
