Scottish Drugs Forum
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Drug effects
Tobacco contains the psychoactive drug nicotine. Nicotine acts on the reward centre in the brain in a similar way to heroin and cocaine. It also seems to be associated with neural pathways involved in attention, concentration and anxiety reduction.
Dependency
The development of tolerance to nicotine is very pronounced, allowing smokers to take in large amounts of nicotine. About one half of young people who experiment with smoking develop nicotine dependence and go on to become daily smokers.
Withdrawal
Nicotine withdrawal begins within 20 minutes of the last cigarette and is characterised by depressed mood, irritability, anxiety and insomnia. Symptoms of nicotine withdrawal are less severe than withdrawal alcohol or heroin, but more severe than withdrawal from cocaine.
Health effects
Smokers are at increased risk of a large number of fatal and life-threatening diseases, including lung and a number of other cancers, obstructive lung disease, respiratory diseases, coronary heart disease and stroke. It is estimated that half of smokers will die from smoking-related diseases. In Scotland there are an estimated 13,000 smoking-related deaths every year. Smoking is also associated with premature aging of the skin, premature grey hair and hair loss, impotence and dental problems.
Non-smokers regularly exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) are at increased risk of lung cancer and heart disease. Infants and children exposed to ETS are at increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), asthma and a range of respiratory diseases.
Overdose risk
There is no overdose risk associated with tobacco.
Risk in pregnancy
Smoking in pregnancy is associated with spontaneous abortion, preterm birth, low birth weight, still birth, congenital defects and delayed cognitive development.
Legal status
It is against the law to sell cigarettes to young people under 16 years of age.