Nicotine

Nicotine is an alkaloid responsible for tobacco abuse and addiction. Nicotinism is considered to be one of the most difficult to quit addictions ever known. Health effects of tobacco smoking are much more severe because nicotine is not the only one danger substance in tobacco – in fact there is few thousands of hazardous chemicals.

formula molecule

Nicotine abuse and addiction

Trade

Trade & street names	nicotine, tobacco
Products	cigarette, snuff, nicotine gum

Medical info

Class	stimulants
Medical use	no medical use
Routes	smoked (tobacco; 1 mg in cigarette), insufflated (snuff), chewed (nicotine gum)
Effects of use	relaxation, calmness, mild euphoria, appetite decrease, alertness, enhanced concentration
Effects of overdose	headache
Withdrawal effects	confusion, restlessness and insomnia, anxiety, dysphoria, petulance
Onset	very rapid
Duration of action	5 minutes - 1 hour