1. Smoke ‘em if you Got ‘em
Biology/Psychology 3506
9/18/2018

2. 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.
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3. 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
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4. 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.
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5. How does it work? There are nicotine receptors (nAChR) in:
Cortex
Basal ganglia
Ventral tegmental area
Nucleus accumbens
That’s the Reward system folks
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6. 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
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7. 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
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8. Kenny and Markou, 2005
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9. Withdrawal Decreased heart rate Increased appetite
Inability to concentrate
Disrupted sleep
anger
Depression
Cravings
This one stays for a long time
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10. 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
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11. Smoking Behaviour Demand inelastic for older people Titration?
Elastic for kids
Titration?
Probably
Psychological Tool
Nicotine Bolus
Probably……
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12. Quitting Most people quit on their own Behaviour Therapy Substitution
Many attempts
Behaviour Therapy
Substitution
Self Monitoring is very effective
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13. 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
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14. 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
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15. 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
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16. 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