Why does smoking so often produce dependence? A somewhat different view.
The usual explanation for why smoking produces dependence focuses on the effects of nicotine on dopamine and other neurobiological explanations. This review offers four somewhat different explanations: (1) nicotine can offer several psychopharmacological benefits at the age when such benefits are especially needed; (2) cigarettes provide for a rapid, frequent, reliable and easy-to-obtain reward; (3) nicotine is not intoxicating, allowing chronic intake; and (4) the long duration of the nicotine withdrawal syndrome effectively undermines cessation. This article reviews the evidence for the above views and the tobacco control activities these views suggest.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05401-1419, USA. john.hughes@uvm.edu
J R
JR
Hughes
D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012907:Smoking; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors
D009538:Nicotine; D004298:Dopamine