Smoking and Nicotine Addiction
Smoking and Nicotine Addiction Kimberly Andy Week Three
Psy/355
May 13, 2013
Dr. Dee Strbiak, PsyD., LPC, CAC III
Smoking is a habit forming and in many instances very hard to stop once started. As the world around grows and increases in knowledge it is becoming more evident that smoking is dangerous not just to the smoker, but the people around them as well. There are many reasons that one may start the habit of smoking but are unaware of just how much the body becomes dependent on it in regard to feeling normal. Like any other habit forming drug the body and mind see the nicotine in cigarettes as a need rather than a want. Understanding the Addiction To understand addiction one must first understand the brains primary motivation neurotransmitter, dopamine. The dopamine pathways that make up the brain serve as a built-in- teacher or memory (Polito, 2012). This certain function triggers a feeling of desire or sensation when wanting the required action to takes place (Polito, 2012). In a sense the dopamine pathways are testing the body to see if it will give into the urges. Once an individual loses control and gives into the urge the dopamine is stimulated, and the desire is satisfied. According to Polito (2012) “The brain records how wanting was satisfied in the most durable, high-definition memory the mind may be capable of generating. It does so by hard-wiring dopamine pathway neuro-transmissions into our conscious memory banks (the prefrontal cortex - the lobe above our eyes), where each is linked to the event that satisfied dopamine pathway wanting, hunger and yearning” (pg. 1). With this known information there are those individuals who are referred to as “chippers” (Polito, 2012, pg. 1). This means that a person in this situation is a social smoker and the brain does not maintain the desires or craving for nicotine. The more often the habit is repeated, the more controlling the dopamine becomes. Nicotine provides
Psy/355
May 13, 2013
Dr. Dee Strbiak, PsyD., LPC, CAC III
Smoking is a habit forming and in many instances very hard to stop once started. As the world around grows and increases in knowledge it is becoming more evident that smoking is dangerous not just to the smoker, but the people around them as well. There are many reasons that one may start the habit of smoking but are unaware of just how much the body becomes dependent on it in regard to feeling normal. Like any other habit forming drug the body and mind see the nicotine in cigarettes as a need rather than a want. Understanding the Addiction To understand addiction one must first understand the brains primary motivation neurotransmitter, dopamine. The dopamine pathways that make up the brain serve as a built-in- teacher or memory (Polito, 2012). This certain function triggers a feeling of desire or sensation when wanting the required action to takes place (Polito, 2012). In a sense the dopamine pathways are testing the body to see if it will give into the urges. Once an individual loses control and gives into the urge the dopamine is stimulated, and the desire is satisfied. According to Polito (2012) “The brain records how wanting was satisfied in the most durable, high-definition memory the mind may be capable of generating. It does so by hard-wiring dopamine pathway neuro-transmissions into our conscious memory banks (the prefrontal cortex - the lobe above our eyes), where each is linked to the event that satisfied dopamine pathway wanting, hunger and yearning” (pg. 1). With this known information there are those individuals who are referred to as “chippers” (Polito, 2012, pg. 1). This means that a person in this situation is a social smoker and the brain does not maintain the desires or craving for nicotine. The more often the habit is repeated, the more controlling the dopamine becomes. Nicotine provides
References: Polio, J.R. (2012). What is nicotine addiction? Retrieved from: http://whyquit.com/whyquit/linksaaddiction.html Science Daily. (1999). Researchers Find Genetic Connection to Cigarette Smoking.