Cigarette addiction, not just nicotine
In 2011, a rat study by Murphy and Maier surprised scientists, proving that nicotine is not the cause of cancer as previously mistakenly thought. Research shows that indicators of carcinogenic properties such as the number of lung tumors in mice that used nicotine compared to mice in the other group did not provide a statistically meaningful difference.
Many people still do not know nicotine is also found in tomatoes, potatoes, red chili, eggplant with very small contents. Scientific studies show that if you eat 10 kg of eggplant, the amount of nicotine absorbed will be equivalent to 1 cigarette. However, because nicotine is associated with tobacco, most people still "conclose" that nicotine is the cause of tobacco-related diseases. According to research by the National Institute of Health and Care, toxins and carcinogens in cigarette smoke are the main cause of disease and death, not nicotine.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) under the World Health Organization (WHO) has also affirmed that nicotine is simply an addictive substance, not the main cause of smoking-related diseases such as lung cancer, COPD, and cardiovascular diseases.
Notably, not only consumers have misconceptions about nicotine. The Consumer Choice Center page cited the results of a survey showing that up to 57% of respondents agreed with the false claim that "nicotine in cigarettes is the cause of most cancers caused by smoking", and even 80% of doctors believe that nicotine causes cancer.
Nicotine is both a sedative and stimulant. When exposed to nicotine, the body will experience a " shock". Nicotine indirectly releases dopamine in the pleasure and prolific areas of the brain. Depending on the amount of nicotine used and how much is stimulated in each person's nervous system, nicotine also acts as a sedative.
Experts say that smoking is the result of nicotine addiction, other ingredients in cigarette smoke and the habit of holding, smoking, and smoking cigarettes. For those who are addicted to behavior, nicotine patches or nicotine-enhanced candy cannot meet the requirements. Therefore, experts say that when mentioning quitting smoking, it must include nicotine smoking and behavior.
Cigarette smoke: an enemy of the community
Science has proven that the smoke of cigarettes contains more than 6,000 chemicals and 100 of them are substances that cause smoking diseases such as cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, asthma... Therefore, eliminating harmful substances or reducing the harmful content much lower than cigarettes in addition to providing nicotine to smokers is currently a scientifically researched and applied solution.
To date, science has been successful in the treatment of cleannicotine, including the application of nicotine replacement therapies such as nicotine patches, nicotine gum, nicotine capsules, nicotine spraying, etc.
In addition, e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are also products that replace cigarettes to provide nicotine thanks to the application of science and technology to eliminate the burning process, so there is no smoke that contains solid particles and pharmaceutical plastic (black matter),... Therefore, these products are also called new-generation cigarettes, or "technology" cigarettes.
The British Public Health Service (PHE), under the UK Ministry of Health, has encouraged smokers to switch to non-smoked tobacco products to replace cigarettes. The rate of secondhand smoke in the UK has decreased by 25% since 2013 (when smoke-free cigarettes became popular).
Thanks to openness to snus (snam cigarettes), the rate of adults smoking in Sweden is the lowest among developed countries, at only 7%. As a result, the incidence of smoking diseases is lower. Norway has had similar success due to its open approach to snus management.
Cigarettes and products containing nicotine are still recommended not to be used, especially for pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with diseases related to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure... However, in reality, it shows that only 8-10% of smokers can successfully quit smoking despite being advised, explained and provided with free smoking support solutions.
Historical experience shows that the ban will not be effective. A US alcohol ban is a disaster that leads to more, unreported, and more drug addicts. There is therefore reason to worry that the fight against nicotine will have similar results. Limiting or banning nicotine for adults will promote the activities of the black market and increase the consumption of banned products.
In fact, more and more public health organizations and leading health experts and scientists are producing many comprehensive and complete studies on nicotine, of which The Global Tobacco & Nicotine Forum (GTNF) is an example. Understanding the correct and sufficient nature of nicotine will help the tobacco control of each country to be correctly and practically determined, from the goal to the implementation strategy.
