Metabolite may play a role in nicotine addiction

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https://neurosciencenews.com/cotinine-nicotine-addiction-12022/
https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/adult_data/cig_smoking/index.htm

Addiction is a brain disorder characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli despite adverse consequences. Addiction is normally related to drugs, but also to smoking cigarettes. About 34.3 million adults in the U.S. currently smoke cigarettes. Cigarettes or tobacco are known to be addicting due to nicotine. Psychology professor Brady Phelps stated that "when you smoke, nicotine is converted into a metabolite called cotinine." Even those that inhale second-hand smoke can also produce cotinine. Cotinine can actually last in the body longer than nicotine, as far as 15 hours compared to nicotine's 2 hour half-life. Cotinine may be amplifying the addictive properties of nicotine, making it harder for smokers to quit. To be studied, Phelps conducted an experiment that involved light phobic aquatic worms. The worms were placed in solutions that contained three different levels of cotinine under light for ten minutes. The results showed that the worms treated with cotinine spent more time in the light than the control group, displaying the addictive potential. However, more studies need to be conducted to fully affirm if cotinine can be a factor in nicotine addiction.

In class, we discussed addiction and it's consequences. Addiction can be linked to reward, the ventral tegmental area also known as the reward pathway, is activated when one experiences something rewarding. However, addiction isn't always linked in reward or even pleasure; but in the compulsive use of the substance and trying to avoid the negative reaction of when one stops taking the substance. Additionally, some researchers believe that learning can even produce brain changes that can cause some individuals to deal with lifelong addiction. Addiction can stem from very different areas of the brain, and that is why it is important that treatment takes a multi-step approach. By combining different treatments, one can see an 60-80% success rate.

Comments

  1. Sofia FilippiApril 21, 2019 at 11:53 PM

    In my intro to helping relationship we studied about the helper and client relationship in treating addiction. Addiction cannot be treated with just one discipline of treatment. It is found that using multidisciplinary create a higher success rate in treating addiction. It was noticed that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can provide significant improvements because it allows the clients to be understand their emotions and develop safer habits to address their emotions. It was also important that the client identifies the triggers that makes them more vulnerable to using the substance.

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