Nicotine is a potent parasympathomimetic

alkaloid found in the nightshade family of

plants (Solanaceae) and is a stimulant drug.

Nicotine is found in the leaves of Nicotiana

rustica in amounts of 214%, the tobacco plant
Nicotiana tabacum, Duboisia hopwoodii and
Asclepias syriaca.[
 Nicotine stimulates the same receptors that are
sensitive to acetylcholine (ACH). Affects of ACH
on biology and behavior include:
Increases blood pressure
Increases heart rate
Stimulates release of adrenaline
Increases tone and activity of gastrointestinal tract
Facilitates release of dopamine and seratonin
Affects CNS functions of arousal, attention,
learning, memory storage and retrieval, mood, and
rapid eye movement (REM) during sleep
 Nicotine can be absorbed through most of the
bodys membranes (Example: Florist
hospitalized for nicotine poisoning)
Nicotine Poisoning A consequence of nicotine
overdose, characterized by palpitations,
dizziness, sweating, nausea, or vomiting
Nicotine is most readily absorbed through the
lungs, which makes inhaling cigarette smoke
an efficient way to get a dose of nicotine
 When a cigarette is inhaled, nicotine reaches
the brain from the lungs within 7 seconds. By
comparison, it takes 14 seconds for blood to
flow from the arm to the brain when a drug is
injected intravenously
The effects of nicotine can be observed rapidly
because its distribution half-life is only 10-20
minutes
The speed of absorption and distribution is one
reason why smokers reach for a cigarette so
soon after they have finished their last one
 The liver is the major organ responsible for
metabolizing nicotine
The lungs and kidneys also play a part in the
chemical breakdown of nicotine
Nicotine is eliminated primarily in the urine, with
10-20% eliminated unchanged through the urinary
tract
Its elimination half-life in a chronic smoker is
about two hours
The smoker must maintain a nicotine blood level
not below the threshold for the beginning of
withdrawal symptoms
 In 1988 the U.S. Surgeon Generals Office
issued a full report with the conclusion that
physical dependence on nicotine develops and
that the drug is addicting
Studies had shown this for some time
Common symptoms reported by smokers 24
hours after they stopped smoking included
craving for tobacco, followed in order by
irritability, anxiety, difficulty concentrating,
restlessness, increased appetite, impatience,
somatic complaints, and insomnia
 Chronic or long-term use is associated with
life-threatening diseases such as coronary heart
disease, cancers of the larynx, oral cavity,
esophagus, bladder, pancreas, kidney and
lungs, and chronic obstructive lung disease
such as emphysema
Emphysema Disease of the lung
characterized by abnormal dilution of its air
spaces and distension of its walls. Frequently
heart action is impaired
 Passive smoking is an active killer
You absorb nicotine, carbon monoxide, and
other elements of tobacco smoke when in the
vicinity of people smoking
It has been suggested that passive smoking in
household kills about 53,000 Americans a year
The fetus is exposed to nicotine if the
nonsmoking mother is regularly exposed
Children whose parents smoke are more likely
to have bronchitis and pneumonia as well as
some impaired pulmonary function
 Smokers say they quit for the following reasons:
Fearing getting sick
Feeling in control
Proving that quitting is possible
Stopping others from nagging
Being forced by others to quit
Saving money
They relapse due to withdrawal symptoms, stress
and frustration, social pressure, alcohol use, and
weight gain
 Programs to help people stop smoking focus
on:
Controlling withdrawal symptoms
Breaking habitual motor behavior involved in
smoking
Learning skills to cope with emotions,
thoughts, and situations in which smokers say
they use cigarettes to help them
Smoking Cessation approaches maybe
classified into two main categories: behavioral
programs and nicotine replacement therapies
 Behavioral programs teach smokers to identify
situations that presented a high risk for them to
smoke, to apply techniques to weaken the habit
components of smoking, to teach coping responses
in high risk situations, and to teach smokers to
self-monitor their smoking behavior.
Nicotine replacement therapies involve the
administration of nicotine to smokers as part of the
effort to help them quit. The nicotine comes in the
form of gum, patches, nasal spray, and inhaler
 All cigarette packaging sold in Philippines are required to display a government
warning label. The warnings include:

Government Warning: Cigarette smoking is dangerous to your health.

Government Warning: Cigarettes are addictive.
Government Warning: Tobacco smoke can harm your children.
Government Warning: Smoking kills.
On July 2014, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III signed the Republic Act 10643, or
An Act to Effectively Instill Health Consciousness through Graphic Health Warnings
on Tobacco Products. This law requires tobacco product packaging to display pictures
of the ill effects of smoking, occupying the bottom half of the display area in both front
and the back side of the packaging.[33] On March 3, 2016, Department of Health (DOH)
secretary Janette Garin started the implementation of Republic Act 10643, requiring
tobacco manufacturers to include graphic health warnings on newer cigarette packaging.
With the Graphic Health Warning Act implemented, graphic health warnings will be
used on newer cigarette packaging, and older packages using text-only warnings are
required to be replaced by newer packaging incorporating graphic warnings. The 12 new
warnings, showing photos of negative effects of smoking, are to be rotated every month,
and by November 3, 2016, all cigarette packaging without graphic health warning
messages will be banned from sale.Labeling of cigarettes with "light" or "mild" are also
started to be forbidden.[