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.

New Year Journey

By Jacqueline Roller, Psy.D.

New Year’s resolutions often include plans to exercise, stop smoking, lose weight, quit drinking alcohol, meditate, and spend more time with family. New Year’s Day arrives with strong resolves to live a healthier lifestyle, but many resolutions fail by February. Successful people understand that change is a journey.

Race On for Stop-Smoking Pill

Pharmaceutical companies and researchers are hoping that new medications can do for smoking cessation what Viagra has done for erectile dysfunction -- provide a viable treatment and make lots of money.

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 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.

Smoking Near Kids Triples Cancer Risk, Study Says

Parents who smoke around their young children more than triple their kids' risk of getting cancer later in life, a new study concludes.

Varenicline Seen as Promising Anti-Smoking Drug

A drug that stimulates dopamine production as well as blocking nicotine receptors in the brain is currently undergoing a priority review at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (DFA).

Interventions Help Firefighters Quit Smoking After 9/11

Counselors took advantage of a 'teachable moment' after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks to successfully urge New York City firefighters to quit smoking.

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.

Medicare to Pay for Smoking Cessation

Seniors who want to quit smoking will soon be able to get reimbursed for the cost of smoking-cessation programs and products by the federal Medicare program, the Wall Street Journal reported March 23, 2005.

Study Shows Smoking Responsible for 11 Types of Cancer

A 50-year study concludes that smoking causes at least 11 types of cancer, with lung cancer the top killer.

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.

Smoking Linked to Early Pancreatic Cancer

Smoking appears to accelerate the onset of pancreatic cancer, according to researchers focusing on the deadly disease.

Parents Who Quit Early Have Kids Who Quit, Too

Parents who quit smoking when their children are young are more likely to have kids who don't smoke or quit as young adults, according to researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

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.

Fear of Gaining Weight Can Make It Harder For Women To Quit Smoking

A big fear for many women who smoke but want to quit is that if they kick the cigarette habit they'll gain unwanted pounds. Results from a new study indicate that getting counseling while quitting smoking can help work through and then alleviate fears about gaining weight--and those who receive therapy not only keep weight gain to a minimum, they're also more apt to be successful at remaining "smoke-free."

Report Shows Healthy Decline in Smoking During Pregnancy

According to a just-released government report, smoking by pregnant women dropped by one-third in the 1990s, with a particularly sharp decline among women in their late 20s and early 30s. Health officials are, however, concerned by the growing numbers of expecting teenagers who are acting counter to this healthy trend.

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.