Smoke ‘em if you Got ‘em Biology/Psychology 3506 9/18/2018
Introduction Active ingredient in tobacco is nicotine Only plant in nature! Cigarettes are coming under regulatory regimes. Probably to be regulated by agencies that regulate drugs, novel idea eh? FDA in the States. 9/18/2018
Administration Orally Nasally Smoke it! Chewed, DON”T SWALLOW Swallowed, much metabolized by first pass in the liver. Nasally Through mucous membranes Smoke it! Nicotine vapourizes 9/18/2018
Administration Smoking (continued) Ultra light smokes Gum patch etc. Absorbed in mouth, lungs Blood to heart to brain. Amount of nicotine to brain depends on smoking method Ultra light smokes Gum patch etc. 9/18/2018
How does it work? There are nicotine receptors (nAChR) in: Cortex Basal ganglia Ventral tegmental area Nucleus accumbens That’s the Reward system folks 9/18/2018
Effects PNS Effects There are CNS effects too: Tremors Inhibition Seems odd, disinhibition Constriction of blood vessels There are CNS effects too: Reward system Release of NE, E, DA 5Ht Stimulant 9/18/2018
Effects If it is a stimulant, why do people smoke to relax? Nesbitt’s Paradox Physical act of smoking? Withdrawal? Could be due to nicotine receptors in GABA system Smoking improves performance in smokers Increases SMA in rats Suppresses operant behaviour Then it picks up 9/18/2018
Kenny and Markou, 2005 9/18/2018
Withdrawal Decreased heart rate Increased appetite Inability to concentrate Disrupted sleep anger Depression Cravings This one stays for a long time 9/18/2018
Smoking Behaviour Daily pattern Smoke with other smokers After lunch and supper Smoke with other smokers More likely than non smokers to use other drugs Negative correlation with SES 9/18/2018
Smoking Behaviour Demand inelastic for older people Titration? Elastic for kids Titration? Probably Psychological Tool Nicotine Bolus Probably…… 9/18/2018
Quitting Most people quit on their own Behaviour Therapy Substitution Many attempts Behaviour Therapy Substitution Self Monitoring is very effective 9/18/2018
Bad Stuff As cool and grown up as you look, smoking can actually be bad for you Lung Disease Cancer Birth Defects Heart Disease CO and nicotine make heart work harder 9/18/2018
Second Hand Smoke Apparently, even saying the word cigarette can actually kill everyone around you…….. Wait a second 1988 WHO study 650 lung Cancer v 1542 healthy Risk ratios 1.16 in home, 1.17 at work +/- .25 9/18/2018
Second Hand Smoke EPA in the States Meta analysis of 11 studies 10 of which found no effect One of the studies in this meta analysis was incomplete Wald (1997) has similar problems 9/18/2018
Second Hand Smoke Now, I’m not saying it is good for you The results all go in the same direction, but they don’t usually, individually, reach p<.05 Probably makes some sense to be careful about public health Still, not nearly as clear as it is made out to be 9/18/2018