Is Smoking a Physical Addiction
Author: Ross Jacky
The reason behind addiction to smoking is one of a psychological one rather than a physical one. The substance, nicotine, is portrayed as the ultimate evil or the guilty party that makes quitting cigarettes a difficult proposition for some, and impossible for still some others. According to Dr. David Williams, nicotine, the chemical substance found in cigarette’s smoke kindles the creation of acetylcholine which facilitates the communication of nerve impulses.
These are many reasons people give for continuing with the habit of smoking. They say, it seems to improve their memory, lifts their general spirit and soothes the nerve. Since most of the smokers are not getting enough nutrition, researchers are of the opinion that one of the things that fuel smoking tendency is a Vitamin B3 deficiency. Vitamin B3 is a water soluble vitamin and is not stored in the body and has to be replaced constantly.
This is to say that people just do not get addicted to vitamins. Rather, it is just an indicator that the tendency to smoke is not an addiction to nicotine.
Let us take the case of addiction to pain relievers. When the patient thinks that he is not getting the same results from the usual dose of pain relievers, he may increase the dose, which for a brief time is bound to give him relief. It will not be long before he has to increase the intake again. This is what that happens in the case of chemical addiction also. The human body system views the new substance as something that throws it off balance and will create a force to counter it. If nicotine, the so-called culprit was a truly addictive substance, smokers would have to keep on increasing its dose in order to achieve the same degree of effects as in the drug example. And, the consumption of tobacco cigarettes would have definitely increased over time. However, this has not been happening.
A very clear pointer to the fact that tobacco cigarettes are only psychologically addictive and not physically addictive is given by the situation of the typical smoker settling into a pattern and staying there for many months and years. One will be able to find a half-a-pack a day person, a full pack a day person, a one-and-a-half pack a day person, a two packs a day person and even a three packs a day person. This figure gets established pretty early in his smoking lifestyle and in all possibility will stay that way. There could be slight fluctuations in the average, and that is it.
If cigarettes had the property of making a person physically addictive, that person would have been smoking more and more cigarettes to achieve the relief as had been claimed; but it is not happening. So, one can conclude that cigarette consumption is regulated by the Psychological Smoking Mechanism and not at all by the chemicals contained in cigarettes.
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What is the brain chemistry behind smoking marjiuana?
I was asked a question about marjiuana on how the chemistry of the brain actually works when some one smokes. Not so much the effect of it, but more so the science behind it. Hope this makes sense.
The active chemical in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol, or more commonly THC, takes the place of natural chemicals in the brain. The primary differences between these chemicals is that THC is longer lasting, and is not taken back into the system through deactivation and neural re-uptake.
The basic function of these chemicals is to flood the brain with dopamine, by neutralizing the inhibitors which stop it’s production and telling the brain to release as much of it as possible. (This is why it helps those with Parkinsons.)
If you were invited to change your brain chemistry by ingesting sacred plants would you do it?
I’m not talking about recreationally or compulsively smoking crack or heroin, or even marijuana. That’s why I use the word sacred. Would you, in a sacred context, ingest the plant medicines which can teach by their neuropharmaceutical effects on our brain patterns?
I’m not sure that I would, even if I seriously believed it were possible. My hunch is that you may be referring to Santo Daime and the use of Ayahuasca, and I have a very good friend who is a participant of several years. This individual has certainly benefitted from something in their connection to this community and their sacred rituals, though whether it’s the plant concoction or the way the community has provided support is impossible to know.
Personally, I’m just unconvinced that sacred plants on their own can do more than open up possibility – the real teaching and learning comes through human interaction. I loved the Don Juan books, and think they teach some interesting truths, and I can see how Santo Daime and the whole culture around it is genuinely beneficial for some people, but it’s not a route I would want to go now. I did plenty of interesting hallucinogens in interesting contexts in the late 60s/early 70s, feel I got something good out of the experience, but really wouldn’t choose to go through anything of the sort again now.
ive decided to quit smoking weed, how long will it take form my brain chemistry to return to normal?
i usually feel pretty wierd for a couple of days after i smoke, haha
Do you mean that as in, when will my brain become normal and realize I need more weed? Because if so, just get some weed…. You’ll know what to do….
What does it mean when weed can mess up your brain chemistry if you are under 21?
I mean not loose brain cells but brain chemistry changes
Can it happen if you smoke it once? or twice
I quit smoking marijuana. How long till my brain chemistry returns to normal?
So I had this bright idea to smoke weed with my brothers and friend after I quit a job six months ago. Then I quit cause I felt like a loser. Suddenly I became very depressed, thinking of old issues and such. I’ve never been depressed in my life. I seem so out of character. I think this stuff affected my brain. How long till I can get back to my normal happy self? I was a moderate/moderate-heavy smoker (everyday, strong weed) for about five months.
Also I quit about three weeks ago.
Around two months , regular exercise and good diet will help it go faster and will keep your mind busy .