How does tobacco create addiction?

“Le tabac, c’est tabou, on en viendra tous à bout” — tobacco is taboo, we will all get the better of it — chanted the comedy trio Les Inconnus in the film Le Pari. It raised a laugh, but tobacco is indeed an addiction. How does it work, and above all how can it be shaken off?

Tobacco, an insidious hold

Although it is only a plant, its power to create dependence is considerable. Why? Simply because, through nicotine, tobacco acts on all three fronts of addiction: physical, psychological and behavioural.

Cigarettes and cigars therefore contain psychoactive substances that lead the brain to produce dopamine. Over time it becomes used to its dose of nicotine and dopamine, and if that dose is missing, the whole body reacts. This shows up as edginess, anxiety and restlessness. That is what is known as physical dependence.

Some people find comfort in tobacco. Many start smoking after a traumatic event in their lives, such as a break-up, a bereavement or the loss of a job, while others see it as a way of coping with stress. Because every smoker is different, there are countless reasons behind psychological addiction.

Finally, the buzz of a group, being in a place where people smoke, or constantly being in the company of smokers are all factors that can push someone towards a cigarette. That is what is known as behavioural dependence, also called environmental dependence.

How can tobacco addiction be shaken off?

In practice, the answer varies from one person to another. Some manage to overcome the addiction through willpower alone. Others need help. Some smokers stop dead and never touch another cigarette. Most of the time, though, the road is a long one before tobacco becomes a matter of complete indifference.

Gums and patches are among the options used to stop gradually. The electronic cigarette is also frequently mentioned by smokers who say they have cut down or given up with it. Other, less conventional approaches, such as hypnosis or self-persuasion, are reported as well.