Due Diligence On The TRUE Addictiveness of Smoking Related Products
Nicotine is a naturally occurring plant alkaloid from the nightshade family of tobaccos but can be synthesised for the production of nicotine replacement therapies.
Smoking related products ie. Tobacco, cigarettes, cigars, vaping products and nicotine replacement therapies all contain nicotine/ and caffeine. Tobacco leaves are quite similar to tea leaves and if steeped can produce psychotropic effects. Tobacco leaves can contain Caffeine as well as nicotine.
The chemical formulas of nicotine and caffeine are:
Nicotine | C10H14N2 | CID 89594
Caffeine | C8H10N4O2 | CID 2519
If combined the chemical formula and effect becomes close to that of Cocaine:
Cocaine | C17H21NO4
Caffeine+Nicotine= C18H24N6O2
C18H24N6O2 = 2-Hydroxybohemine
IUPAC NAME: 6-(2-Hydroxybenzylamino)-2-(3-hydroxypropylamino)-9-isopropylpurine
..That when smoked becomes the equivalent of crack cocaine. Plant alkaloids have opioid activity so the presence of nicotine as a plant alkaloid has an opioid effect. Caffeine is a methylxanthine alkaloid.
The addition of Menthol into smoking related products including nicotine replacement sprays is interesting as menthol works on opioid receptors and is hence an opioid itself. The addition of menthol has a similar effect to heroin but less potent than profolol.
Heroin | C21H23NO5
Menthol | C10H20O
Nicotine is a stimulant opioid working on dopaminergic pathways elevating dopamine levels and when ingested together with caffeine its effects are similar to crack cocaine but its true addictive potential also comes from its opioid effect, together when compounded with menthol becomes highly addictive with withdrawal effects similar to withdrawing from heroin and in some respects can be much harder.
BY DR KATY WIN
PUBLISHED ONLINE 22ND SEPTEMBER 2026 @ 17:31
Comments