quit smoking in Murcia

— How does nicotine consumption affect the brain at different stages of life, especially the adolescent brain compared to the adult brain?

– Nicotine affects the brain from the first use, causing changes in its functioning. During adolescence, the brain is still maturing, which means that external stimuli, including nicotine, have more important and lasting effects than on the adult brain. In adolescents, nicotine use alters the maturation process and affects brain function throughout life. In addition, the teenage brain is more vulnerable to developing addictions, so it is much more likely that a young person using nicotine will become hooked not only on this substance, but also on others. Likewise, it increases the risk of mental illness and affects cognitive processes, leaving effects that can last into adulthood.

— To what extent might the perception of “less harm” from vapers distract attention from the real risks they pose in the long term?

— It has been documented for many years that tobacco is harmful to health, mainly due to combustion products responsible for its carcinogenic effects. E-cigarettes, or vapers, because they do not involve combustion, are considered less harmful, and a 2013 study found the risk was “95% lower” than tobacco. However, this study warned that there was no long-term evidence of its effects, and yet it was widely reported. Since then, the composition of vapers has changed, and recent studies have shown that the aerosol they produce damages cells, affects the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, and increases the risk of heart attacks and coronary heart disease. This shows that “smoke” from vapers is not harmless and there are significant long-term health risks.

— Why does nicotine withdrawal on a physiological level cause so many emotional and physical symptoms?

– Withdrawal occurs because the body, which has become dependent on nicotine for normal functioning, becomes “unbalanced” when it stops receiving it. Over time, this dependence becomes a necessity. When consumption is interrupted, the body has to readjust itself, causing both physical and emotional withdrawal symptoms. Although physical symptoms usually disappear, changes in the brain persist. During use, people associate nicotine with places, objects, or situations, such as stress or the company of others, which increases the likelihood of relapse. Even after years of abstinence, exposure to these stimuli can trigger a strong desire to use drugs, making relapse a constant threat. This is one of the biggest challenges in drug addiction treatment.

With the rise in e-cigarette consumption, do you think we are seeing a “gateway” phenomenon that could lead to more traditional tobacco consumption in the future?

— Yes, teen vaping appears to increase the risk of initiation of traditional tobacco use, since what may be a smoking cessation tool for adults poses a greater risk of tobacco and other substance use for adolescents. Prevention must begin with education from childhood, including information about drugs and other risky behaviors. It is important that young people are aware of the risks associated with e-cigarettes and other potentially addictive behaviours.

— Many smokers doubt whether the benefits of quitting are worth the effort to overcome withdrawal symptoms. What arguments and strategies would you recommend to those who are not yet convinced to take this step?

“The health benefits of quitting tobacco are enormous and far outweigh the efforts of abstinence.” While some people can kick the habit without help, many require professional support or medication. The main thing is to persist. This is usually not achieved on the first try, but each attempt provides knowledge that strengthens the path to the goal of quitting smoking.

Are there any areas or topics related to nicotine consumption and its health effects that you think need further research?

“Substance use disorders are very complex pathologies that affect many brain systems, and although many of the changes that nicotine and other drugs cause in the brain are already known, new research is being published every day. This is important because it allows the development of new drugs aimed at reversing the changes caused by nicotine and other drugs in the brain and expanding treatment options. As I stated earlier, exposure to stimuli that have been associated with the consumption of nicotine or other substances of abuse for many years causes a person, even after long periods of abstinence, to have an uncontrollable urge to consume, causing relapse in many. cases. Therefore, it would be a very important advance to find a drug that could prevent exposure to these objects, people, emotions, etc. from triggering consumer behavior. This is one of the areas of research that we are currently conducting in our laboratory, and that other research groups are also working on.