Research: Brain's Reaction to Nicotine May Cause Addiction

Studies done at the University of Massachusetts Medical School have indicated that young people can become hooked on smoking with amazing speed just by puffing that first cigarettes. Adolescents who tend to feel relaxed when actually smoking for the first time are more likely to become addicted, say researchers.

Lead study Dr. Joseph R. DiFranza who is also Professor of Family Medicine and Community Health at U.M.M.S. said, "We know that nicotine can have immediate impact on the brain and yet we also know that not every adolescent who tries a cigarette gets hooked. We want to know what accounts for the differences in vulnerability among adolescents who pick up that first cigarette".

The study shows that while personality factors often determine which young people might try smoking, it seems that the way someone actually reacts to the nicotine is what makes the difference. A 4 year study carried on 12,000 interviews with some 1,246 6th-graders from schools in six Mass. communities. Some 46 risk factors were assessed in categories such as personality, attitude and beliefs about smoking done by siblings, parents, and friends. They also reviewed the child's reaction to inhaling cigarette smoke for the first time and their degree of community involvement. All the factors were considered together after compiling the evidence and it appeared that experiencing relaxation in response to the first smoking experience and nicotine is the strongest predictor of addiction in the future.

Kids who were familiar with cigarette advertising characters like Joe Camel which is used to promote Camel cigarettes, some depression, and a personality where their personality craved new daring experiences, were also listed as factors.

The study was supported by the National Institute of Drug Abuse. Results of the study will appear in the October issue of Pediatrics.

Smoking remains the number one preventable cause of death in the United States, claims the National Institute on Health. Each year smoking is responsible for 440,000 deaths. Second hand smoke has been found to be as toxic if not more so, than actually smoking claim researchers.

Some of the medical conditions that are related to smoking include high blood pressure, heart disease, mouth and throat cancer, stroke, lung cancer, emphysema, asthma, allergies, C.O.P.D. (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and low birth weight, prematurity, still birth of newborns and miscarriage.

Heart disease is the #1 cause of death in smokers, with lung cancer coming in next. Researchers go on to say that there were 1,690,000 premature deaths from cardio vascular disease related to smoking in 2000.

There are over 4000 chemical compounds present in inhaled cigarette smoke.

Sources used in this article are as follows: http://www.umassmed.edu/Content.aspx?id=42718www.quitsmoking.about.com/cs/nicotinepatch/a/healthrisks.htm