NICOTINE

NICOTINE: WHAT IS IT AND
WHY IS IT IN SMOKE-FREE
ALTERNATIVES?

NICOTINE, WHILE ADDICTIVE AND NOT RISK-FREE, IS NOT THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF SMOKING RELATED DISEASES.

Science based, smoke-free products are not risk free and contain nicotine which is addictive, but have the potential to be less harmful than continuing to smoke. But the best option remains that if you don’t smoke, you should not start; and if you smoke, you should quit entirely. 

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WHAT IS NICOTINE?

Nicotine occurs naturally in the tobacco plant. Once inhaled, nicotine is absorbed through the lungs straight into the bloodstream where it travels through the body into tissues and organs, including the brain. In the brain, nicotine binds to specific receptors and triggers the release of dopamine and other neurotransmitters. As a result, nicotine may stimulate and ultimately affect short-term brain functions such as emotion, learning, and memory.1

After repeated nicotine stimulation, the brain adapts to the presence of nicotine, a process that is reversible when a person stops using nicotinecontaining products. The action of nicotine in the brain can also trigger physiological effects outside the brain. For example, the messenger epinephrine is released into the bloodstream, leading to temporary (and reversible) narrowing of blood vessels, higher blood pressure, and increased heart rate.2

Nicotine-containing products should not be used by people who have or are at risk of heart disease, are diabetic, are epileptic, or are experiencing seizures. They should not be used during pregnancy or while breast-feeding, Finally, minors should not use or have access to any tobacco or nicotine-containing products. 

NICOTINE IN SMOKE-FREE ALTERNATIVES 

We are often asked why nicotine is present in the smoke-free alternatives we produce at Phillip Morris International. Nicotine is one of the reasons that some adults smoke but is not the only reason. For many adult smokers, the taste, ritual, and sensorial experience are reasons that they smoke. In order for adult smokers, who would otherwise continue to smoke, to switch from cigarettes to smoke-free alternatives, these products need to contain nicotine and also provide the taste and experience that is acceptable. 

NICOTINE IS NOT THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF SMOKING-RELATED DISEASES 

Nicotine, while addictive and not risk-free, is not the primary cause of smoking-related diseases. It’s the other harmful and potentially harmful chemicals in smoke that are the primary cause of smoking-related diseases. A statement from NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) finds that “it is primarily the toxins and carcinogens in tobacco smoke—not the nicotine—that cause illness and death”.

A BALANCED PERSPECTIVE

Institutes like Public Health England4 and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration5 see the potential of nicotine-containing products as smoking alternatives. Public Health England also weighs in on the public awareness of nicotine, saying “there is much public misunderstanding about nicotine (less than 10% of adults understand that most of the harms to health from smoking are not caused by nicotine)”.6

However, regions like Australia carry heavier restrictions on nicotine. Under Australian Commonwealth law, nicotine-containing products are categorized as prescription-only (with nicotine patches, gums, or sprays as exceptions) or dangerous poisons (with the exception of its use in therapeutics or cigarettes). Adult smokers deserve accurate and non-misleading information in order to be able to make an informed decision. And choices like these add up to affect public health outcomes. This is one of the reasons why it is so important to combat public misperceptions about nicotine.

Many people still mistakenly believe that nicotine is a major cause of tobacco-related diseases. A literature review of 54 studies has shown that peoples’ assumptions about nicotine vary, and are often wrong.7

It is important to educate regulators, public health experts, adult smokers and adult nicotine users about nicotine and nicotine-containing products. A balanced perspective on nicotine is necessary. Certain groups of people should not use nicotine. But products containing nicotine can help to support public health goals by encouraging adult smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke to abandon cigarettes and switch completely to smoke-free products.

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