Nicotine as a Stimulant Drug - Third most widely used psychoactive drug - Like caffeine, it is a plant-based alkaloid stimulant drug - Toxic, used as an insecticide, must wear gloves when harvesting - Lethal dose is 60 milligrams - About 1 milligram ingested from a cigarette Sources of Nicotine - Tobacco plant - Leaves from plant are cured and prepared in several ways - Cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco - Chewing tobacco Routes of Administration - Nicotine is readily absorbed from all parts of the body - Inhalation - Most tobacco is smoked - Nicotine is vaporized in tiny particles - Absorbed by mucous membranes in lungs - Fast and effective way for nicotine to reach the brain - Intranasal - Snuff and nicotine nasal spray - Transdermal - Nicotine patch Acute Effects of Nicotine - Nicotine is a biphasic drug - Low doses cause Central Nervous System stimulation, but effect reverses with high Doses - Methodological issues to consider when interpreting effects - Smokers and non-smokers have different effects - Withdrawal reversal may confound findings - Smokers tested under conditions of abstinence show improvements - Objective effects - Improves attention, working memory, short-term episodic memory, recognition Memory, reasoning, information processing, learning, and finger tapping speed. - Improves cognitive processes - Subjective effects - Pleasure/feel good - Energetic - Liking and wanting the drug again - Effects on the body - Nicotine stimulates sympathetic nervous system - Increased heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, sweating - Increases metabolism at rest and while exercising - Slows digestion Lethal Dose of Nicotine - Lethal dose is 30-60 milligrams for adults and 10 milligrams for children - Smoking usually causes nausea and vomiting before overdose - Nicotine replacement products could lead to accidental overdose