9781422273913

Understanding Tobacco and Nicotine

Whether you’re smoking cigarettes, using a vape or a hookah, or putting a plug of tobacco in your cheek, you’re taking nicotine into your body. The nicotine is what keeps addicts coming back for more. There are many other chemicals in tobacco products as well, but we’ll get to those later. First, let’s explore what nicotine is and how it affects you. Facts about Nicotine Nicotine was discovered in 1828. It was named for Jean Nicot, a French ambassador who had given tobacco to Catherine de Medici to ease her migraines. Nicotine enters the bloodstream through the nasal passages, the mouth, and the lungs. When a person inhales nicotine (whether through a traditional cigarette, a vape, or some other method), it takes from 8 to 10 seconds for the drug to reach the brain. Nicotine is what’s known as

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