EvC Forum: Drugs are for Everyone

I'd like to say a few nice words about nicotine.

First, as Wiki notes and crash refers to in passing ("the buzz"), nicotine offers the user a large palette of useful and pleasurable effects--I've broken up paragraphs for emphasis:

quote:
When a cigarette is smoked, nicotine-rich blood passes from the lungs to the brain within seven seconds and immediately stimulates the release of many chemical messengers including acetylcholine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, vasopressin, arginine, dopamine, autocrine agents, and beta-endorphin.[35] This release of neurotransmitters and hormones is responsible for most of nicotine's effects.

Nicotine appears to enhance concentration[36] and memory due to the increase of acetylcholine.

It also appears to enhance alertness due to the increases of acetylcholine and norepinephrine.

Arousal is increased by the increase of norepinephrine.

Pain is reduced by the increases of acetylcholine and beta-endorphin.

Anxiety is reduced by the increase of beta-endorphin.

Nicotine also extends the duration of positive effects of dopamine[37] and increases sensitivity in brain reward systems.[38]

Research suggests that, when smokers wish to achieve a stimulating effect, they take short quick puffs, which produce a low level of blood nicotine.[40] This stimulates nerve transmission. When they wish to relax, they take deep puffs, which produce a high level of blood nicotine, which depresses the passage of nerve impulses, producing a mild sedative effect.

At low doses, nicotine potently enhances the actions of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain, causing a drug effect typical of those of psychostimulants.

At higher doses, nicotine enhances the effect of serotonin and opiate activity, producing a calming, pain-killing effect. Nicotine is unique in comparison to most drugs, as its profile changes from stimulant to sedative/pain killer in increasing dosages and use.

Also, the positive impact of nicotine on cognitive function is considerable and well-established (bold emphasis added):

quote:
Cognitive effects of nicotine

Biological Psychiatry, Volume 49, Issue 3, Pages 258-267 (1 February 2001)

Amir H Rezvania, Edward D Levina

Abstract
Nicotine and other nicotinic agonists have been found to improve performance on attention and memory tasks. Clinical studies using nicotine skin patches have demonstrated the efficacy of nicotine in treating cognitive impairments associated with Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Experimental animal studies have demonstrated the persistence of nicotine-induced working memory improvement with chronic exposure, in addition to the efficacy of a variety of nicotinic agonists.

Nicotine is pleasurable. Nicotine helps you work with greater focus, greater alertness, and an improved working memory. Nicotine is a stimulant for work, and a relaxant at rest. Nicotine dulls pain. The beneficial cognitive effects of nicotine are persistent. These are effects well supported by clinical research, not a smoker's impression.

I have used nicotine patches to assist in rush, "all-nighter" projects. I rarely smoke cigarettes now, but I occasionally do smoke with great pleasure, especially with a good single malt scotch.

The rational project, it seems to me, is to perfect modes of delivery that satisfy the user while protecting his health. I harbor no doubts that deeply inhaling burning vegetation is pernicious--that's why, like many other cannabis enthusiasts, I rely on vaporizers and ingestion.

Tea, anyone?

I believe this applies universally to drugs of all kinds--but cognitive liberty is a topic for another thread.

Dost thou prate, rogue?
-Cassio

Real things always push back.
-William James

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