Tobacco Smoking and Nicotine Dependence: Biological Basis for Pharmacotherapy from Nicotine to Treatments that Prevent Relapse

Smoking cigarettes is directly linked to over 400,000 deaths in the U.S. each year due to cancer, stroke and cardiovascular disease. Yet cigarettes are only the delivery system for the drug nicotine much as the hypodermic needle and glass bottle provide the heroine addict or alcoholic with their res...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of addictive diseases 1998-01, Vol.17 (1), p.7-21
Main Authors: Gold, Mark S., Herkov, Michael J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Central Nervous System Stimulants - therapeutic use
Dopamine - physiology
Drug addiction
Humans
Nicotine - adverse effects
Nicotine - analogs & derivatives
Nicotine - therapeutic use
Nucleus Accumbens - physiology
Polymethacrylic Acids - therapeutic use
Polyvinyls - therapeutic use
Recurrence
Smoking
Smoking - physiopathology
Smoking Cessation
Smoking Prevention
Substance abuse treatment
Substance Withdrawal Syndrome - drug therapy
Substance Withdrawal Syndrome - etiology
Tobacco Use Cessation Products
Tobacco Use Disorder - physiopathology
Tobacco Use Disorder - prevention & control
Treatment Failure
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Summary:Smoking cigarettes is directly linked to over 400,000 deaths in the U.S. each year due to cancer, stroke and cardiovascular disease. Yet cigarettes are only the delivery system for the drug nicotine much as the hypodermic needle and glass bottle provide the heroine addict or alcoholic with their respective drugs. Studies have conclusively shown that smoking tobacco, like smoking heroin or cocaine is profoundly addictive. The neural pathways of the brain's reward system are the same for tobacco as for other drugs, making research from these studies applicable to understanding nicotine addiction. In this paper we will discuss what the DSM-IV describes as nicotine dependence and withdrawal from both the psychosocial and neurobiological perspective. Using this knowledge we will review current treatments as well as recommendations for relapse prevention.
ISSN:1055-0887
1545-0848
DOI:10.1300/J069v17n01_02