Tobacco dependence needs long-term approach

摘要

In low concentrations (an average cigarette yields about 1 mg of absorbed nicotine), nicotine acts as a stimulant in humans and is one of the main factors responsible for the dependence-forming properties of tobacco smoking. According to the American Heart Association, 'Nicotine addiction has historically been one of the hardest addictions to break'. The pharmacological and behavioural characteristics that determine tobacco addiction are similar to those that determine addiction to drugs such as heroin and cocaine.