Lecture Outline #11: Smoking, and Cocaine

NOTE: For info on the addictive nature of nicotine, I would urge you to read the information at the following internet sites. Much of this lecture outline comes from the internet sources listed below:

I. CIGARETTES AND OTHER NICOTINE PRODUCTS

A. GENERAL INFORMATION AND EFFECTS ON BODY

1. In 1989, the Surgeon General noted that cigarettes are addictive and that nicotine is the drug.

2. Nicotine is a major cause of stroke and the leading, preventable cause of death in the United States.

3. Highly addictive nicotine is both a stimulant and a sedative to the CNS.

4. It results in an almost immediate "kick".

5. Stress and anxiety reduce effects of nicotine, requiring more to achieve effect.

6. Tobacco use causes nicotine accumulation in the body during the day and persists overnight.

7. Addiction to nicotine results in withdrawal symptoms when a person tries to stop smoking.

8. During abstinence or craving, smokers have impaired psychomotor and cognitive function.

9. Women who smoke can experience a variety of problems under certain conditions.

10. In addition to nicotine, cigarette smoke is composed of other gases: such as tar and CO.

B. CIGARETTE USAGE IN THE UNITED STATES:

1. ~70 million Americans are current cigarette smokers.

2. 50% of high school seniors have smoked at some time. (13.2% smoke a pack a day)

3. Current smokers are more likely to be heavy drinkers and illicit drug users.

4. Teens are generally resistant to many kinds of anti-smoking messages (invincibility).

5. During smoking cessation, rates of relapse diminish considerably after 3 months.

6. Increased smoking cost can greatly reduce cigarette use.

7. Tobacco use causes more than 440,000 deaths each year.

8. Annual medical costs exceed $75 billion.

Additional information about tobacco is available at: U.S. Government Info on Tobacco

II. CRACK AND COCAINE

Much of this information on crack/cocaine comes from: The National Institute of Drug Abuse

1. "Crack" is the street name given to cocaine that has not been processed to hydrochloride salt.

2. By smoking, the crack user allows extremely high doses of cocaine to the brain very quickly.

3. Cocaine is a strong CNS stimulant that activates the sympathetic nervous system.

4. Cocaine constricts blood vessels, dilates pupils, increases temp, heart rate and blood pressure.

5. It also interferes with dopamine transporter and the re-absorption process for dopamine.

6. The lingering dopamine stimulates the nucleus accumbens associated with pleasure and movement.

(NOTE: Read the scientific abstract about “natural rewards” versus “unnatural rewards”)

7. Once having tried cocaine, one cannot predict or control the extent of the addiction.

8. It has strong neuropsychologic reinforcing property, despite harmful physical and social effects.

9. High doses or long use can trigger paranoia, ulceration of nasal membranes, or cardiac arrest.

10. Cocaine and alcohol together cause liver to make cocaethylene, which increases sudden death.

11. 8.0% of 12^th-graders have used cocaine in 2005 (half of 1985 use).

12. In 2003, 2.0 million Americans used cocaine (most users between ages 18-25).

13. In 2004, 34 M Americans had used cocaine within their lifetime.