Nicotine addiction – a health problem in adolescents in a neurobiological context

Abstract

Smoking is one of the leading causes of death which can be prevented in the developed countries. Smoking begins mainly in adolescence. Smoking in early adolescence is known to be associated with an increased risk of later addiction. Also the growing popularity of e-cigarettes, which attract young people with a variety of flavors, and are still little associated with harmful effects on health, unlike regular cigarettes. Exposure to nicotine in young people can affect learning, memory and attention, and lead to increased impulsivity, mood disorders and drug dependence. Nicotine and its derivatives are harmful to the human body, causing a significant increase in blood pressure, deterioration of blood supply to the vessels and acceleration of atherosclerotic processes, it has a detrimental effect on the gastric mucosa, causing gastric disorders. In addition, smoking is associated with the risk of many cancers: oral cavity, larynx, esophagus, lung, pancreas, kidney, liver and bladder. Nicotine addiction causes many health, social and financial consequences for the individual and the community as a whole. Multiple nicotine addiction risk SNPs were found in the CHRNA5/A3/B4 gene cluster, with the best reported results for the risk allele derived from the non-synonymous SNP, rs16969968, in CHRNA5. Therefore, in the problem of addiction, including nicotine addiction, it seems important to know the neurobiological factors, including genetic ones, involved in these processes. This could lead to the development of new pharmacological and behavioral treatment strategies in the future.

Associations between Wastewater Microbiome and Population Smoking Rate Identified Using Wastewater-Based Epidemiology

“…Nicotine and other tobacco metabolites can be present in the human gastrointestinal tract, affecting its secretions and metabolism and the intestinal microbiome. For instance, nicotine relaxes smooth muscle and increases pepsin secretion . Previous studies have shown that smoking generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the blood, leading to oxidative stress and activation of JNK and p38 signaling .…”

“…For instance, nicotine relaxes smooth muscle and increases pepsin secretion. 57 Previous studies have shown that smoking generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the blood, leading to oxidative stress and activation of JNK and p38 signaling. 58 Smoking also alters the mucin composition of the gut and cellular tight junction molecules, in addition to causing local acid−base imbalances in the gut.…”