Legal Stimulants: Caffeine and Nicotine Addiction

Caffeine and Nicotine are legal stimulants that are consumed universally and both cause physiological changes in the brain, increasing dopamine and leading to tolerance, dependency, addiction, and withdrawals. Having the right amount of dopamine is associated with pleasure, attention, and movement. It’s what makes us feel well, motivates us, helps to fine tune other systems in the body, and acts as a “reward circuit” that influences our behaviors to want more.

Nicotine Addiction

Nicotine addiction causes the same physiological changes as many other drugs including compulsory behaviors to consume more, cravings, tolerance, and withdrawals. Many individuals begin smoking early in adolescence although it is illegal in the United States to do so before the age of 18. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, cigarette smoking by youths has continuously declined since 1997, but other tobacco products are a concern. E-cigs, small cigars, and smoking tobacco through hookah pipes is a concerning trend for this age group.

Nicotine Effects

Nicotine stimulates the central nervous system increasing heart rate, blood flow, and alertness, but, over time, the arteries begin to narrow from the carcinogens inhaled from the smoke. Psychologically, nicotine may produce a calming effect as it increases dopamine in the brain and produces a sense of pleasure, leading to nicotine addiction.

Nicotine Health Risks

Decreased oxygen in the blood can have serious effects on all other systems and organs of the body and the carbon monoxide and other toxins poison numerous cells as it flows through the blood. Nicotine addiction causes cancer, respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, tumors, narrowing and hardening of the arteries, stroke, blood clots, and heart attack.

Nicotine Withdrawals

Like other stimulants, nicotine withdrawal symptoms include intense cravings for nicotine. Other symptoms may include weight gain, inability to concentrate, distracted, significant distresses that disrupt normal behaviors and increase depression, irritability, anxiety, restlessness, appetite, impatience, and mood swings.

Caffeine Effects

Caffeine is the most psychoactive chemical used in the world. It can be found in teas, coffee, carbonated beverages, pills, alcoholic beverages, energy drinks, and chocolate. It stimulates the central nervous system activity and the person’s metabolic rate. Caffeine increases alertness, mental awareness, energy, and improves coordination. Moderate consumption of caffeine is considered healthy and productive, but, excessive consumptions can cause both physical and psychological health risks.

Caffeine Health Risks

High amounts of caffeine can over-stimulate the central nervous system and cause life threatening symptoms that are similar to overdoses on other stimulants, including: high blood pressure, jitteriness, insomnia, nausea, appetite loss, high blood sugar, dizziness, anxiety, headache, increased body temperature, mood swings, delusions, problems urinating, and death. Long term use of frequent or high amounts may lead to anxiety, panic, and insomnia disorders.

Caffeine Withdrawals

Although they are not life threatening, caffeine withdrawals can be unpleasant and may include cravings, depression, headaches, nausea, anxiety, mood swings, fatigue, decreased cognition and motor functioning. These symptoms will dissipate gradually and do not normally require mental health supervision.