Nicotine addiction explained
Nicotine is highly addictive. When you puff on a cigarette, it takes just seconds for the nicotine in the cigarette to go from the lungs to the brain.
If someone has smoked for a while, their brain is filled with receptors that eagerly await incoming nicotine. Think of nicotine as a key, and receptors as little locks. When the nicotine unlocks the receptor, a feel-good chemical called dopamine is released, giving the person a little hit or buzz. This doesn’t last long. The nicotine soon fades making the receptor eager for more. Cue a craving! The cycle begins again.
People who are addicted to nicotine may get feelings of withdrawal when they quit. These include:
- Urges or cravings to smoke
- Finding it harder to concentrate or feeling restless
- Trouble sleeping
- Being easily upset, feeling irritable, frustrated, angry
- Being anxious or feeling down
- Increase in hunger or weight gain.
Feelings of withdrawal usually only last a few weeks.
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) helps to reduce feelings of withdrawal in people who smoke. NRT gives a little bit of nicotine, which locks on to some of the receptors in your brain, lessening cravings and feelings of withdrawal. This means you can focus on addressing your other triggers, like smoking with your morning coffee or smoking when stressed.
Get support from AQL
Nicotine addiction is one part of why you smoke. There can also be habitual parts, like smoking in social situations, or with coffee or alcohol. Others are psychological or emotional - smoking to cope with stress or anxiety. That’s why yarning with an AQL counsellor can help. Yarning with AQL helps you manage the habitual or emotional parts of why you smoke. AQL counsellors can also support you if you're using vapes to quit the smokes.
Types of nicotine replacement
There are 5 types of NRT - nicotine patches, gum, lozenges, mouth spray, and inhalator. Nicotine patches are slower-acting, and the other types are faster-acting.
Most people find it’s best to use a combination of slower- and faster-acting types, like the patches plus gum and mouth spray. That way you have a steady level of nicotine for the day plus a bit extra at times when you would normally smoke.
It’s important to speak with your doctor, Aboriginal health worker, TIS worker or AQL about which NRT is best for you, and how best to use it. Your doctor or pharmacist will be able to talk to you about what dosage is right for you.
Slower-acting NRT
Nicotine patches
The slower-acting nicotine patches give you a steady level of nicotine over a longer period.
You apply the nicotine patch to your skin, much like you would a band-aid, usually in the morning. The nicotine in the patch is slowly absorbed into your body through your skin.
Faster-acting NRT: use in combination with slower-acting
The faster-acting gum, lozenges, mouth spray and inhalator give you nicotine more quickly than the patches. You use them when you have a craving, or you know a craving will come on.
Nicotine gum
Nicotine gum looks like regular gum, but you don’t use it in the same way you would use normal chewing gum. You use the ‘park and chew’ method.
Nicotine lozenges
Unlike other lozenges, you don't chew, suck or swallow the nicotine lozenge. Nicotine is absorbed through your mouth and slowly released into your body, so using a nicotine lozenge is all about adopting the ‘roll technique' (or the 'cheek to cheek' technique as it’s also known).
Nicotine mouth spray
The nicotine mouth spray is sprayed onto the inside of your mouth, but you don't use it like a breath freshener. You want to absorb the nicotine through the lining of your mouth, not swallow it. It's all about placement.
Nicotine inhalator
The nicotine inhalator may look like a cigarette, but you need to use it differently. Take short, shallow, and frequent puffs of the inhalator, like sipping a straw. You need to take about eight to 10 times as many puffs on the inhalator as you would for a cigarette, so that's about 60 to 80 puffs.
What about prescribed stop smoking tablets?
If you visit your doctor, you can get a prescription for stop smoking tablets. These tablets can help to reduce feelings of nicotine withdrawal. Your doctor will advise if these are suitable for you.
What about using e-cigarettes to quit the smokes?
Some people who smoke use e-cigarettes through a prescription from their doctor, for a short period of time, to help them quit the smokes. Your doctor will be able to talk with you about whether this is the right option for you.
Access NRT through Closing the Gap
You can buy NRT from most pharmacies, supermarkets or online. You can also get discounted nicotine patches on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). You need to get a prescription from your doctor, which you take to your pharmacist.
Under the Closing the Gap Scheme, eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can access nicotine patches for free or for a small co-payment. Speak with your doctor, Aboriginal health worker or TIS worker, or call AQL on 13 7848 for more information.
Quitting Questions
Please note, this information is for general use only. Please consult your health professional for further advice.
If you would like to provide feedback, please contact quit@cancervic.org.au
Last updated February 2024
