Synonym
NicotineThe term “nicotine” refers to a mostly alkaline, nitrogenous organic compound (so-called alkanoid) that occurs naturally in tobacco plants.
Introduction
For a long time, the consumption of nicotine was considered a social experience. But at the latest since the possible health damage by smoking was recognized more and more, humans tried to take distance from this addiction. Extensive studies concern themselves however not only with the effects of the nicotine consumption on the human organism, but also with it, which life circumstances bring humans to smoking.
In general, it can be assumed that the proportion of smokers is comparatively higher in low educated classes. In the mid-1960s, the proportion of smokers in the educated classes and the middle class is said to have been more than 40 percent each. In the meantime, this proportion has almost halved in the upper class and dropped to around 30 percent in the middle class.
In the lower educated classes, on the other hand, the proportion of people who regularly consume nicotine is said to have risen to around 34 percent. In addition, extensive studies suggest that parents smoke much more often than childless couples. The consumption of nicotine is therefore still widespread, despite the known health risks.
The greatest danger of starting smoking seems to be in adolescence in particular. The main reasons for this phenomenon seem to be the role model function of smoking parents and peer pressure. Fortunately, the proportion of young people who smoke has fallen significantly in recent years.
Persons who start smoking once get into a dependency relationship within a very short time. Just a few seconds after inhaling nicotine, it reaches the brain via the bloodstream. There it docks on to so-called nicotinergic receptors and initiates a series of physiological signal cascades. The actual addiction is probably caused by an increase in the messenger substance dopamine and a stimulation of the reward system that goes along with it.
