Written by Panamdeep Thind and Edited by Mehr Kaur Bawa
Nicotine addiction is one of the most common addictions in the United States; approximately 50 million people are addicted to tobacco products like cigarettes, vapes, cigars, etc. [1]. There are many effects induced by nicotine on the body, including increased likelihood of blood clots, strokes, and the onset of cancer. Statistics show that smoking contributes to about a third of cancer deaths and directly harms brain development as teens grow [2]. Furthermore, nicotine addiction is common among young adults and teens, especially in the form of JUUL pods. The manufacturer of JUUL pods reported that one JUUL contains the same amount of nicotine as 20 regular cigarettes [1]. Oftentimes, JUUL pods are falsely assumed to be safer and contain less nicotine.
There are numerous ways to cope with nicotine addiction; one common strategy is nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). The nicotine in tobacco often leads to physical and mental dependence as well as withdrawal symptoms if nicotine consumption is reduced. Some of the common physical withdrawal symptoms include coughing, headaches, cravings, and fatigue. However, NRT is used to aid with the physical withdrawal symptoms by releasing small amounts of nicotine. Different types of NRT products (patch, chewing gum, lozenge, inhaler, and nasal spray) help ease the transition from regular nicotine intake to abstinence [3]. A 2012 study analyzed trials from the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group comparing NRT to placebo and comparing the effectiveness of different doses of NRT in smoking cessation. The study also revealed that over-the-counter NRT is correlated with increases in success rates of quitting, regardless of its use in conjunction with other cessation methods or not [4].
Besides NRT, there are social ways to help aid individuals in their nicotine cessation process, such as finding support groups or having family and friends to talk to. Another common and successful method is “cold turkey.” This method consists of completely cutting off any connection to nicotine instantly, without the use of a gradual intake method such as NTR. Although it is suggested to be one of the hardest methods to quit and often is ill-advised by healthcare professionals, data collected by Cancer Institute NSW’s Tobacco Tracking Survey (CITTS) reports that smokers claim that the cold turkey method was just as successful as NRT if not more for most individuals quitting their nicotine intake [5]. Other recommendations to aid in the process of smoking cessation include avoiding smoke triggers, such as certain social settings, and regular exercise to keep the mind and body busy.
References
- “Nicotine and the Escalating risk of addiction for youth” Health Advisory, Department of Health, 2018, https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/tobacco/nicotine/docs/2018addictionadvisory.pdf. Accessed 23 Nov. 2020.
- “Cancers Linked to Tobacco Use Makeup 40% of All Cancers Diagnosed in the United States.” CDC Newsroom, CDC, 2016. Accessed 23 Nov. 2020.
- “Using Nicotine Replacement Therapy.” Smokefree Gov, smokefree.gov/tools-tips/how-to-quit/using-nicotine-replacement-therapy. Accessed 23 Nov. 2020.
- Stead, L. F., Perera, R., Bullen, C., Mant, D. (2008) “Nicotine Replacement Therapy for Smoking Cessation.” Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 11.
- Hung, T. W., Dunlop, M. S., Perez, D., Cotter, T. (2011) “Use and Perceived Helpfulness of Smoking Cessation Methods: Results from a Population Survey of Recent Quitters.” BMC Public Health, 11:592.
- Tang, J. L., Law, M., Wald, N. (1994) “How effective is nicotine replacement therapy in helping people to stop smoking.” BMJ, 308:21.