Scientific studies of the effects of cigarette smoking reveal that many of the early claims about the benefits of tobacco, as well as the above described dangers, were not groundless. Some previously suggested benefits were based on valid observations. Smoking is a convenient way for people to help regulate their mood and feelings, and it has some benefit in the control of body weight.
When possible therapeutic benefits of a drug are considered we must address the issues of "safety" and "efficacy". The drug must be proved safe in the form in which it will be marketed, and the drug must be proved effective unscientific tests. These are key factors used by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when new drugs or food additives are considered for approval.
The nicotine delivered by cigarette smoking clearly has some therapeutic effects. On the other hand, the overwhelm-in evidence that cigarette smoke also causes a wide range of damaging effects would prevent tobacco from being ape-proved for therapeutic purposes. However, to understand why so many people smoke, why treatment of smokers is difficult, and why most people who stop smoking soon re-some the habit, it is important to understand some of the benefits gained by smoking.
As a means of self-treatment tobacco is very convenient. It is also legal, relatively inexpensive, and readily available. It may be consumed nearly anywhere with minimal social stigma, the amount (dose) can be precisely controlled, and it is in a convenient delivery system. In the form of tobacco smoke, nicotine can be delivered to the blood stream within seconds of smoke inhalation. The nicotine dose has ex-trimly rapid and controllable effects. In fact early researchers dubbed this system "finger-tip control of dose", to emphasize the puff by puff precision with which a smoker can regulate his or her nicotine dose level.
Once in the blood stream, nicotine has immediate effect son many hormones. Two, in particular, have been studied in detail: adrenaline and noradrenalin. Adrenaline is released into the bloodstream when people are anxious, stressed, or bored. Noradrenalin is released during certain kinds of heightened arousal caused by excitement, exercise, anti-depressant drugs, sex, many drugs of abuse, and nicotine. There- is some evidence that cigarette smokers can use nicotine to adjust their levels of noradrenalin and thus self-regulate their own moods and emotional states. It should come as no surprise that two of the most commonly given reasons for smoking are for "stimulation" and "reduction of stress".
Studies show that nicotine has some therapeutic effects probably related to these biochemical effects. In one study the effects of nicotine on aggression were measured. Two research subjects were seated in separate rooms in which they worked at a computer game to earn money. One sub-jest would periodically lose points (and money). This loss was thought, by the subject, to be due to the deliberate actions of the other. When this happened the person who lost the money could either subtract points from the other person or blast the subject with a loud noise. Before the test the subject was given a cigarette to smoke. The cigarettes delivered different doses of nicotine. The higher the dose of nicotine that the "angry subject" smoked, the less likely hews to punish the other subject.
Other studies have verified that nicotine can indeed reduce anxiety and make people more tolerant of stressful events and distractions. Together, these studies support claims by many smokers that cigarettes help them to deal more effectively with the daily stresses in life.
Tests have also shown that in certain kinds of tasks involving speed and reaction time, nicotine can improve performance. It also helps on tasks involving vigilance and concentration, such as watching a computer screen. The enhancing effects of nicotine on performance are strongest when cigarette smokers have been deprived of cigarettes for several hours. However, the enhancing effects also occur when nonsmokers are given small doses of nicotine in tablet form (buffered so that it would be absorbed through the stomach).
Many people claim that they smoke as a means of weight control, and there is evidence that nicotine and smoking does facilitate this in at least three ways. Firstly, nicotine decreases the efficiency with which the body ex-tracts energy from food. Thus more food is eliminated with-out being converted to fat or muscle. Secondly, nicotine reduces the appetite for foods containing simple carbohydrates (sweets). Lastly, smoking reduces the eating that often occurs as a response to stress. As a result of these effects, cigarette smokers tend to weightless than nonsmokers. Roughly one-third of the people who stop smoking gain weight. Anti-smoking zealots point out that this is not so had since two-thirds of the people who stop smoking do not gain weight. But they miss an important point. That is that weight gain is a possible undesirable side effect to stopping smoking. For any other type of therapy, a side effect that occurred inane-third of those treated would be considered worthy of serious attention.
It should be apparent that the effects of smoking are many and varied, and that some short-term effects may be beneficial. In the long run, smoking is hazardous to health and shortens the expected life span. Understanding the benefits, however, can provide insights as to why some people smoke. More importantly, it should be clear that removing the benefits of smoking may lead to side effects which must be addressed. Otherwise treatment will not be successful.
When possible therapeutic benefits of a drug are considered we must address the issues of "safety" and "efficacy". The drug must be proved safe in the form in which it will be marketed, and the drug must be proved effective unscientific tests. These are key factors used by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when new drugs or food additives are considered for approval.
The nicotine delivered by cigarette smoking clearly has some therapeutic effects. On the other hand, the overwhelm-in evidence that cigarette smoke also causes a wide range of damaging effects would prevent tobacco from being ape-proved for therapeutic purposes. However, to understand why so many people smoke, why treatment of smokers is difficult, and why most people who stop smoking soon re-some the habit, it is important to understand some of the benefits gained by smoking.
As a means of self-treatment tobacco is very convenient. It is also legal, relatively inexpensive, and readily available. It may be consumed nearly anywhere with minimal social stigma, the amount (dose) can be precisely controlled, and it is in a convenient delivery system. In the form of tobacco smoke, nicotine can be delivered to the blood stream within seconds of smoke inhalation. The nicotine dose has ex-trimly rapid and controllable effects. In fact early researchers dubbed this system "finger-tip control of dose", to emphasize the puff by puff precision with which a smoker can regulate his or her nicotine dose level.
Once in the blood stream, nicotine has immediate effect son many hormones. Two, in particular, have been studied in detail: adrenaline and noradrenalin. Adrenaline is released into the bloodstream when people are anxious, stressed, or bored. Noradrenalin is released during certain kinds of heightened arousal caused by excitement, exercise, anti-depressant drugs, sex, many drugs of abuse, and nicotine. There- is some evidence that cigarette smokers can use nicotine to adjust their levels of noradrenalin and thus self-regulate their own moods and emotional states. It should come as no surprise that two of the most commonly given reasons for smoking are for "stimulation" and "reduction of stress".
Studies show that nicotine has some therapeutic effects probably related to these biochemical effects. In one study the effects of nicotine on aggression were measured. Two research subjects were seated in separate rooms in which they worked at a computer game to earn money. One sub-jest would periodically lose points (and money). This loss was thought, by the subject, to be due to the deliberate actions of the other. When this happened the person who lost the money could either subtract points from the other person or blast the subject with a loud noise. Before the test the subject was given a cigarette to smoke. The cigarettes delivered different doses of nicotine. The higher the dose of nicotine that the "angry subject" smoked, the less likely hews to punish the other subject.
Other studies have verified that nicotine can indeed reduce anxiety and make people more tolerant of stressful events and distractions. Together, these studies support claims by many smokers that cigarettes help them to deal more effectively with the daily stresses in life.
Tests have also shown that in certain kinds of tasks involving speed and reaction time, nicotine can improve performance. It also helps on tasks involving vigilance and concentration, such as watching a computer screen. The enhancing effects of nicotine on performance are strongest when cigarette smokers have been deprived of cigarettes for several hours. However, the enhancing effects also occur when nonsmokers are given small doses of nicotine in tablet form (buffered so that it would be absorbed through the stomach).
Many people claim that they smoke as a means of weight control, and there is evidence that nicotine and smoking does facilitate this in at least three ways. Firstly, nicotine decreases the efficiency with which the body ex-tracts energy from food. Thus more food is eliminated with-out being converted to fat or muscle. Secondly, nicotine reduces the appetite for foods containing simple carbohydrates (sweets). Lastly, smoking reduces the eating that often occurs as a response to stress. As a result of these effects, cigarette smokers tend to weightless than nonsmokers. Roughly one-third of the people who stop smoking gain weight. Anti-smoking zealots point out that this is not so had since two-thirds of the people who stop smoking do not gain weight. But they miss an important point. That is that weight gain is a possible undesirable side effect to stopping smoking. For any other type of therapy, a side effect that occurred inane-third of those treated would be considered worthy of serious attention.
It should be apparent that the effects of smoking are many and varied, and that some short-term effects may be beneficial. In the long run, smoking is hazardous to health and shortens the expected life span. Understanding the benefits, however, can provide insights as to why some people smoke. More importantly, it should be clear that removing the benefits of smoking may lead to side effects which must be addressed. Otherwise treatment will not be successful.
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