Nicotine Addiction: Why Can It Happen and How to Deal With It?

Medical Video: Stop Smoking - Why is it so hard? - Mayo Clinic

The average Indonesian smokes 12.4 cigarettes every day. Based on the latest data from the 2013 Basic Health Research (Riskesdas), Indonesian active smokers ranging in age from 10 years and above range up to 66 million people, aka 10 times the total population of Singapore!

Even more surprising, the death toll from smoking in Indonesia has reached 200 thousand cases per year.

Although most of the toxic effects of smoking are related to a number of other chemical components contained in a cigarette, addiction to cigarettes and tobacco is a pharmacological effect of nicotine.

How does nicotine work?

When a person breathes cigarette smoke, nicotine is distilled from tobacco and carried by smoke particles into the lungs which will then be absorbed rapidly into the pulmonary vein of the lung.

Next, the nicotine particles enter the arterial circulation and move towards the brain. Nicotine will easily flow into brain tissue, where these particles will bind to nAChRs receptors, open ionotropic receptors (ligand-gated ion channels) to allow cations such as sodium and calcium to pass through the membrane in response to more binding chemical messengers, such as neurotransmitters .

One of these neurotransmitters is dopamine, which can improve your mood and activate pleasure. This effect of nicotine in tobacco is the main reason that tobacco and cigarettes are very addictive.

Nicotine dependence involves behaviors and physiological factors. Behaviors and cues that may be related to smoking include:

Certain times on one day, for example, smoking while drinking coffee and breakfast, or during work breaks
After eating
Accompanied by alcoholic drinks
Certain places or certain people
When calling
Under pressure, or when feeling sad
See other people smoke, or smell cigarettes
When driving

Signs and symptoms of nicotine addiction

In some people, smoking can very quickly cause nicotine dependence even if consumed only in small amounts. Here are some signs and symptoms of nicotine addiction:

Can't stop smoking. Even though you have tried several times to stop smoking.
You experience "sacking" when you stop smoking. All of the smoking cessation attempts that you have done give rise to signs and symptoms, both physical and mood changes, such as severe cravings, anxiety and nervousness, irritability or anger, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, feeling depressed, frustrated, anger, increased hunger , insomnia, and constipation or even diarrhea.
Stay smoking despite having health problems. Even though you have been diagnosed with certain health problems related to the heart or lung, you cannot and / or are able to stop.
You are more concerned with being able to smoke than doing social or recreational activities. You might prefer not to visit a restaurant at all because of the restaurant's smoking ban rules, or prefer not to socialize with non-smokers because you cannot smoke in a situation or in a particular location.

Are there effective treatments to overcome nicotine addiction?

In addition to starting healthier lifestyle changes, the methods below are proven to treat your dependence on nicotine:

Alternative products for nicotine

Or better known as NRT (Nicotine Replacement Therapy). For example nicotine gum or nicotine patches. This therapy will support your nicotine needs to alleviate the "sakaw" effect of quitting smoking. These products produce physiological changes that are more tolerable than the systemic effects of tobacco-based products, and generally supply users with much lower levels of nicotine than a cigarette.

This type of therapy has the potential for side effects of low nicotine abuse, because they do not produce the pleasant and soothing effects that you can get from tobacco products. NRT also does not contain carcinogenic compounds and pollutants which are commonly associated with cigarette smoke.

Prescription medicines (bupropion and varenicline)

Bupropion is an antidepressant that can also be used to help people stop smoking. Bupropion does not contain nicotine, but can still overcome the patient's desire to smoke. Bupropion is often used for 7-12 weeks, starting 1-2 weeks before quitting smoking. This drug can be used to maintain smoking cessation for up to six months. Side effects that may be experienced are insomnia and dry mouth.

Varenicline is a drug that will target brain dependence on nicotine by blocking nicotine intake before reaching the brain membrane and reducing smoking desire. Many studies have shown that varenicline is more effective in helping people quit smoking, because this tablet drug successfully stimulates dopamine to intercept nicotine receptors for work. Varenicline reduces nicotine signs and symptoms and cravings, which can help prevent a total relapse. This drug can also block the effects of nicotine even if you smoke again.