NICOTINE
Welcome to interactive presentation, created with Publuu. Enjoy the reading!
NICOTINE
Version 1 - Published: June 2024 - Review Due: June 2025 - Charity No. 1051757
Everything you need to know about...
SCAN THE QR
CODE FOR MORE
INFORMATION ON
OUR WEBSITE
www.thezoneplymouth.co.uk
What is nicotine?...................................................................1
How is it used?.......................................................................1
How does nicotine make you feel?.....................................2
Physical Health Risks - Smoking Tobacco.........................3
Physical Health Risks - Vaping Nicotine...........................4
Mental Health Risks.............................................................5
Nicotine Addiction and Dependence................................6
The Law Around Nicotine....................................................7
Your Experience With Nicotine Depends On.....................8
Useful Contacts / Getting Help...........................................9
References...........................................................................10
CONTENTS
Now becoming more popular, some people use
vaping products to inhale nicotine. these can
come as disposable vapes, compact ‘pod’
devices, vapes with a tank and ‘cigalikes’.
WHAT IS NICOTINE?
Nicotine is an addictive stimulant found in tobacco and most
vaping products, as well as some other products including
medicines to help people stop smoking.
HOW IS IT USED?
Most people consume nicotine in smoked
tobacco. This includes, cigarettes, cigars,
tobacco pipes and shisha.
Some individuals consume nicotine through
smokeless tobacco (including chewing
tobacco, heated tobacco and nicotine
pouches).
www.thezoneplymouth.co.uk
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products
such as patches and gum are available to aid
those trying to quit or reduce the amount of
nicotine they inatke.
EFFECTS
RISKS
Gives you a ‘buzz’
Dizziness
Relaxation
Headaches
Ability to concentrate
Racing heart
Feeling of pleasure
Nausea / Vomitting
Feeling of reward
Stomach cramps
Can reduce urge to smoke
Weakness
HOW DOES NICOTINE
MAKE YOU FEEL?
www.thezoneplymouth.co.uk
When nicotine is inhaled, adrenaline is released which stimulates
the body. Nicotine also activates parts of the brain that are
involved in producing feelings of pleasure and reward (see ‘Your
experience with nicotine depends on...’ for different factors that
can affect this).
The effects of nicotine depend on how the individual
takes it, how much is taken and the strength of the
nicotine in the product. Smoking cigarettes is the
fastest way that your body can absorb nicotine.
Smoking cigarettes also has the strongest effect on
your brain.
Reduced
life
expectancy
Strokes
Heart
disease
Throat
www.thezoneplymouth.co.uk
PHYSICAL HEALTH RISKS:
SMOKING TOBACCO
The way an individual uses nicotine makes a difference to the
health risks they are exposing themselves to. Smoking gives you
nicotine by burning tobacco, which puts the user at risk of:
If you
experience any
of these
symptoms and
you smoke
tobacco,
consult your GP
and let them
know you
smoke. It’s
never to late to
get help.
Heart
attack
Mouth
Lung
Stomach
Pancreatic
Kidney
Cervical
Leukemia
Dry Mouth
www.thezoneplymouth.co.uk
PHYSICAL HEALTH RISKS:
VAPING NICOTINE
The way an individual uses nicotine makes a difference to the
health risks they are exposing themselves to. As vaping is a new
phenomenon, there is little research on the long term effects of
vaping. However, vaping gives you nicotine by heating an e-
liquid, which puts the user at risk of:
l
lt
is
If you experience any of these symptoms and you vape nicotine,
consult your GP and let them know you vape. It’s never to late
to get help.
Painful
coughing
Shortness of
Breath
Dry
Throat
Mouth
Irritation
Throat
Irritation
Increases
anxiety and
tension
Depression
Extreme
cravings
L
R
IS
www.thezoneplymouth.co.uk
MENTAL HEALTH RISKS
As with any drug (defined as ‘a substance which has a
physiological effect when ingested or introduced into the body’),
nicotine alters your brain from it’s natural state which in turn will
effect your mental health.
Irritability
Higher stress
levels
Addiction
see ‘Useful Contacts’ if you are struggling with your mental
health
www.thezoneplymouth.co.uk
NICOTINE ADDICTION
AND DEPENDENCE:
ADDICTION = Defined as compulsive substance abuse despite
negative consequences.
Nicotine is extremely addictive, particularly when its in smoked
tobacco (cigarettes). Some individuals can get addicted to
nicotine after smoking a few cigarettes. As of today’s research,
vaping nicotine is likely to be less addictive than smoking,
however individuals can still become dependent on vapes.
DEPENDENCE = When the body physically relies on a drug.
Giving up nicotine can be difficult because the body has to get
used to functioning without it. With smoking and vaping,
withdrawal symptoms can occur 2-3 hours after the last
cigarette. These symptoms can last a few days to a few weeks.
Nicotine cravings
Increased hunger
Tingling in hands / feet
Difficulty sleeping
Anxiety
Low mood
Irritability
Restlessness
Sore throat
If any of these statements
apply to you and you smoke /
vape nicotine, you may be
addicted and at risk of
developing a dependence.
It is never too late to get
help. See ‘Useful Contacts’
for how to access help that
suits you.
Legal
Illegal
Recommended
Cigarettes
+18 to buy
cigarettes
Buy / give
cigarettes for
someone
UNDER 18
Smoking is the
number one
preventable
cause of death,
disability and ill
health in the U.K.
Vapes
+18 to buy
nicotine
vapes
Buy / give
nicotine vapes
for someone
UNDER 18
If you do not
already smoke, do
not start vaping.
Other
nicotine
products
+18 to buy
nicotine
products
Buy / give
nicotine
products for
someone
UNDER 18
Less harmful than
cigarettes, but not
enough data to
show if they help
to stop quitting.
Nicotine
Replacement
Therapy
Products
Sold over the
counter or
prescribed to
anyone over
12
Buy / give NRT’s
for someone
UNDER 18
Talk to your GP or
a pharmacist for
tailored support
on NRT’s.
www.thezoneplymouth.co.uk
THE LAW AROUND
NICOTINE
Nicotine has different rules around what is legal and what is
illegal. See below for a condensed, quick view of the law. For
more information, visit www.gov.uk
www.thezoneplymouth.co.uk
YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH
NICOTINE DEPENDS ON
Not every person is going to experience drugs in the same way.
Factors that affect your experience on nicotine include:
How much of the drug you have smoked
or vaped, and the amount of time
between smoking or vaping more.
Your physical size, and if you have
eaten or drank anything before
smoking or vaping nicotine.
Environment and people. You’re likely to
have a bad experience if you’re in an unsafe
environment with people you don’t trust.
Any other drugs you have taken. Mixing
drugs is extremely risky, but some
mixtures are more dangerous than others.
Strength of the nicotine - Different nicotine
products have varying strengths. E-liquid
strength ranges from 0mg to 36mg of nicotine.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14