SMOKING

By Phoebe, Robbie, Jed, Brandon

What is smoking?
Merriam Webster defines smoking as the act of inhaling and exhaling fumes of burning plant material Most common forms of plant material smoked are tobacco (including cigarettes) and to a lesser extent, cannabis.

CIGARETTES

Whats in a cigarette?
Nicotine - an addictive substance in tobacco Tar - Sticky and brown, it stains teeth, fingernails and lung tissue Carbon Monoxide - odourless gas which is fatal in large doses Hydrogen Cyanide - stops the lungs' clearance system from working properly - leading to a build up of poisonous chemicals in the lungs Free Radicals - damage the heart muscles and blood vessels Radioactive compounds

Nicotine - Types of addiction

Physical
"the appearance of characteristic withdrawal symptoms when the use of a substance is suddenly discontinued." Nicotine is considered physically addictive because it physically alters your brain function and it produces withdrawal symptoms when you stop smoking.

Psychological
a dependency of the mind, and leads to psychological withdrawal symptoms (such as cravings, irritability, insomnia, depression, anorexia, etc) Addiction can in theory be derived from any rewarding behaviour, and is believed to be strongly associated with the dopaminergic system of the brain's reward system.

A person who is physically dependent, but not psychologically dependent can have their dose slowly dropped until they are no longer dependent. However, if that person is psychologically dependent, they are still at serious risk for relapse into abuse and subsequent physical dependence.

Addiction - Why it occurs?

Genes: Genetics play a significant role. Using alcohol as an example, having parents with alcoholism, for instance, makes you four times more likely than other children to become alcoholics. More than 60 percent of alcoholics have family histories of alcoholism. Mental illness: Many addicted people also suffer from mental health disorders, especially anxiety, depression or mood illnesses. Early use of drugs: The earlier a person begins to be exposed to nicotine the more likely they are to progress to more serious abuse. Social environment: People who live, work or go to school in an environment in which smoking is common are more likely to abuse drugs. Childhood trauma: Scientists know that abuse or neglect of children, persistent conflict in the family, sexual abuse and other traumatic childhood experiences can shape a child's brain chemistry and subsequent vulnerability to addiction.

Signs of nicotine dependence

You can't stop smoking. You've made one or more serious, but unsuccessful, attempts to stop. You experience withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop. Your attempts at stopping have caused physical and mood-related signs and symptoms, such as strong cravings, anxiety, irritability, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, depressed mood, frustration or anger, increased hunger, insomnia, and constipation or diarrhea. You keep smoking despite health problems. Even though you've developed problems with your lungs or your heart, you haven't stopped or can't stop. You give up social or recreational activities in order to smoke.You may stop going to smoke-free restaurants or stop socializing with certain family members or friends because you can't smoke in these locations or situations.

Nicotines effect on Synaptic activity

Each neurotransmitter has its own specific family of receptors. Nicotine effects synaptic activity by docking to a subset of receptors that bind the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter that (depending on what region of the brain a neuron is in): Delivers signals from your brain to your muscles Controls basic functions like your energy level, the beating of your heart and how you breathe Acts as a "traffic cop" overseeing the flow of information in your brain Plays a role in learning and memory

Nicotines effect on Synaptic activity (2)

This stimulation leads to:
Increased release of acetylcholine from the neurons, leading to heightened activity in cholinergic pathways throughout your brain. This cholinergic activity calls your body and brain to action, and this is the wake-up call that many smokers use to re-energize themselves throughout the day. Through these pathways, nicotine improves your reaction time and your ability to pay attention, making you feel like you can work better. Stimulation of cholinergic neurons promotes the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine in thereward pathways of your brain. This neural circuitry is supposed to reinforce behaviors that are essential to your survival, like eating when you're hungry. Stimulating neurons in these areas of the brain brings on pleasant, happy feelings that encourage you to do these things again and again. When drugs like cocaine or nicotine activate the reward pathways, it reinforces your desire to use them again because you feel so at peace and happy afterwards. Release of glutamate, a neurotransmitter involved in learning and memory - Glutamate enhances the connections between sets of neurons. These stronger connections may be the physical basis of what we know as memory. When you use nicotine, glutamate may create a memory loop of the good feelings you get and further drive the desire to use nicotine.

Withdrawal symptoms of nicotine

Physical
Tingling in the hands and feet Sweating Intestinal disorders (cramps, nausea) Headache Cold symptoms as the lungs begin to clear (sore throats, coughing, and other signs of colds and respiratory problem)

Mental/Emotional
Feelings of being an infant: temper tantrums, intense needs, feelings of dependency, a state of near paralysis. Insomnia Mental confusion Vagueness Irritability Anxiety Depression

Effects of tar
Tar is the common name for the resinous partially combusted and healed particulate matter produced by the burning of tobacco and other plant material in the act of smoking. Tar is a highly sticky substance and therfore it tends to gel along the nasal and tracheal passage causing damage to the cilia. Moreover the tar sticks to the tender surface of the alveoli reducing its surface contact with blood vessels. Continued accumulation of tar leads to the onset of cancer in the lungs, preceded by problems like chronic bronchitis or emphysema. Finally, Tar also damages the mouth by rotting and blackening teeth, damaging gums and blocking papillae and taste buds and the eye's vision.

Effects of Carbon Monoxide

Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced from the incomplete burning of virtually any combustible product. It may accumulate indoors as a result of tobacco smoking, poorly ventilated appliances, and attached garages. Carbon Monoxide enters the blood from the lungs and combines with hemoglobin, blocking the blood's ability to carry oxygen to body cells. Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide exposure may mimic influenza and include fatigue, headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, mental confusion, and rapid heart rate. Depending on the level of exposure, Carbon Monoxide can be immediately fatal. Long-term, low-level exposure to Carbon Monoxide by pregnant women have the potential to injure the developing fetus.

Effects of smoke particles

Irritation of the trachea and voice box Swelling and narrowing of the lung airways Build up of poisonous substances which result in lung irritation and damage Risk of lung infection and symptoms such as coughing and wheezing

OTHER SUBSTANCES COMMONLY SMOKED

Shisha
Shisha is flavoured tobacco smoked through a hookah (a water pipe with a smoke chamber, a bowl, a pipe and a hose. Specially made tobacco is heated, and the smoke passes through water and is then drawn through a rubber hose to a mouthpiece). Hookah smoke contains high levels of toxic compounds, including tar, carbon monoxide, heavy metals and cancer-causing chemicals (carcinogens). As such, the effects are highly similar to those seen above. In fact, hookah smokers are exposed to more carbon monoxide and smoke than cigarette smokers.

Effects of smoking shisha

As with cigarette smoking, hookah smoking is linked to lung and oral cancers, heart disease and other serious illnesses. Hookah smoking delivers about the same amount of nicotine as cigarette smoking does, possibly leading to tobacco dependence. Hookah smoke poses dangers associated with secondhand smoke. Hookah smoking by pregnant women can result in low birth weight babies. Hookah pipes used in hookah bars and cafes may not be cleaned properly, risking the spread of infectious diseases.

Cannabis
Cannabis, also known as marijuana and by other names, refers to preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug and for medicinal purposes. Acute effects while under the influence can include euphoria and anxiety. Concerns have been raised about the potential for long-term cannabis consumption to increase risk for schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, and major depression, but the ultimate conclusions on these factors are disputed. The evidence of long-term effects on memory is preliminary and hindered by confounding factors.

Bibliography
http://science.howstuffworks.com/nicotine4.htm http://www.hbo.com/addiction/understanding_addiction/ 14_some_people_become_addicted.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoking http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/tobacco/ smoking.html http://www.quitsmokingsupport.com/withdrawal1.htm