Youth Smoking Impairs Thinking, Memory

Nicotine has been shown to sharpen concentration among adults, but the opposite may be true for young smokers, according to researchers at Yale University.

Now's the Perfect Time to Resolve to Stop Smoking--For Good

Each year, as many as one-third of all smokers make an earnest attempt to kick the habit. Those who succeed say it was THE most important thing they've ever done for themselves. While quitting is tough, it's not impossible...you will, though, need all the help you can get.

What is Nicotine?

Nicotine, recognized as one of the most frequently used addictive drugs, is a naturally occurring colorless liquid that turns brown when burned and acquires the odor of tobacco when exposed to air. Nicotine is absorbed through the skin and mucosal lining of the mouth and nose or by inhalation in the lungs. Depending on how tobacco is taken, nicotine can reach peak levels in the bloodstream and brain rapidly.

How Does Tobacco Affect the Brain?

Like cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, nicotine increases levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which affects the brain pathways that control reward and pleasure. For many tobacco users, long-term brain changes induced by continued nicotine exposure result in addiction—a condition of compulsive drug seeking and use, even in the face of negative consequences.

Millions of Americans in Denial About Their Own Substance Abuse

Results of a recent nationwide survey reveal that, while millions of Americans habitually smoke pot, drink alcohol, use cocaine and swallow prescription drugs, too many who meet the criteria for needing treatment do not recognize that they have a problem. The figure of those "in denial" is estimated at more than 4.6 million--a significantly higher number of individuals who could benefit from professional help than had previously been thought.

Finally Going To Quit Smoking? Learn From Those Who've Successfully Kicked the Habit

Quitting smoking isn't easy--but it's definitely not impossible. Each year more than 3 million Americans kick the smoking habit for good. If you or someone you care about has finally decided to quit, the following advice can help.

Pressured Teens More Likely To Smoke

Recent research shows that stress stemming from high academic expectations plays a key role in when teens decide to smoke, especially among girls. The study found that students at highly competitive schools were more likely to smoke than students with similar levels of academic performance at less-competitive schools.

Smoking During Pregnancy--What are the Risks?

The decreased birth weights seen in infants of mothers who smoke reflect a dose–dependent relationship—the more the woman smokes during pregnancy, the greater the reduction of infant birth weight. These newborns also display signs of stress and drug withdrawal consistent with what has been reported in infants exposed to other drugs.

Smoking May Spark Hunger

When young people take up smoking to regulate their weight, this may prove to be counterproductive. Newly-released research suggests a connection between exposure to nicotine and subsequent weight gain.

Smoking Hurts Odds of Successful In-Vitro Fertilization

Smoking seems to fast-forward a woman's reproductive clock and can dim her odds of becoming pregnant via in-vitro fertilization.

Smokers at High Risk of Kidney Cancer

Smokers are 39 percent more likely to develop kidney cancer than nonsmokers, according to a review of 24 studies conducted over the past four decades.

Tobacco Smell, Taste Could Help Prevent Withdrawal

Exposing people trying to quit smoking to the smell and taste of cigarettes could help ease the symptoms of withdrawal, according to researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Smoking During Pregnancy Causes Genetic Damage

Smoking during pregnancy can damage the chromosomes of the developing fetus, putting the child at increased risk of certain cancers and other problems.

Turning to the Use (and Abuse) of Drugs, Alcohol and/or Tobacco in Times of Stress...

Stressful events can have a direct affect on the use of alcohol or other drugs. Stress is a major contributor to the initiation and continuation of addiction to alcohol or other drugs, as well as to relapse or a return to drug use after periods of abstinence.

Link Between Teen Smoking and Anxiety Disorders

Can smoking directly affect emotional health? A recent study offers evidence of an association between cigarette smoking during the teen years and developing anxiety disorders during adolescence and early adulthood.