Document Detail


Do smokers self-administer pure nicotine? A review of the evidence.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  15004737     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
RATIONALE: Nicotine is almost universally believed to be the primary agent motivating tobacco smoking and the main impediment to cessation. A principal argument in support of the presumed reinforcing properties of nicotine is that smokers self-administer pure nicotine. However, the evidence for nicotine self-administration in smokers has not been critically examined. OBJECTIVES: To review and examine the empirical basis for the assertion that smokers self-administer pure nicotine. METHODS: We reviewed all the studies we were able to locate that are cited as demonstrating self-administration of nicotine, isolated from tobacco, in normal smokers and non-smokers. These studies investigated self-administration of intravenous nicotine, nicotine gum and nicotine spray. Using the authors' own criteria, we examined whether these studies in fact demonstrate nicotine-self administration. RESULTS: None of the studies we reviewed demonstrated nicotine self-administration in smokers. Both smokers and non-smokers failed to show preference for nicotine over placebo in any of these studies, including in a series of six reports of overnight abstinent smokers having access to nicotine nasal spray, a rapidly absorbed form of nicotine. CONCLUSIONS: The common statement that smokers self-administer pure nicotine lacks empirical support. Smokers in fact do not administer pure nicotine in any of the forms studied to date, even when abstinent and presumably nicotine-deprived. This conclusion necessitates a critical re-examination of the nicotine addiction thesis.
Authors:
Reuven Dar; Hanan Frenk
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article; Review     Date:  2004-03-05
Journal Detail:
Title:  Psychopharmacology     Volume:  173     ISSN:  0033-3158     ISO Abbreviation:  Psychopharmacology (Berl.)     Publication Date:  2004 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2004-04-14     Completed Date:  2004-08-06     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7608025     Medline TA:  Psychopharmacology (Berl)     Country:  Germany    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  18-26     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel.ruvidar@freud.tau.ac.il
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Drug Administration Routes
Humans
Nicotine / administration & dosage*
Nicotinic Agonists / administration & dosage*
Reinforcement (Psychology)
Self Administration
Smoking / psychology*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Nicotinic Agonists; 54-11-5/Nicotine
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2004 Sep;175(2):256-8; author reply 259-61   [PMID:  15309373 ]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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