Diseases

Nicotine Addiction

Back

Nicotine dependence - also called tobacco dependence - is an addiction to tobacco products caused by the drug nicotine. Nicotine dependence means you can't stop using the substance, even though it's causing you harm. Nicotine produces physical and mood-altering effects in your brain that are temporarily pleasing.

SYMPTOMS

Anxiety, cravings, depression, difficulty concentrating, impaired performance, increased appetite and weight gain, irritability, frustration and anger, restlessness and impatience.

CAUSES

Nicotine is an addictive drug which causes mood-altering changes in the brain which are temporarily pleasing, making people want to use it more and more. When a person is addicted to nicotine they have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, which temporarily go away when they receive the nicotine through smoking tobacco.