This report considers the biological and behavioral mechanisms that may underlie the pathogenicity of tobacco smoke. Many Surgeon General's reports have considered research findings on mechanisms in assessing the biological plausibility of associations observed in epidemiologic studies. Mechanisms of disease are important because they may provide plausibility, which is one of the guideline criteria for assessing evidence on causation. This report specifically reviews the evidence on the potential mechanisms by which smoking causes diseases and considers whether a mechanism is likely to be operative in the production of human disease by tobacco smoke. This evidence is relevant to understanding how smoking causes disease, to identifying those who may be particularly susceptible, and to assessing the potential risks of tobacco products.

For those addicted to nicotine, the thought of being able to quit smoking and have fun while doing it has seemed impossible—until now. "I Don't Smoke!" offers a very different approach to smoking cessation: an approach that focuses on the smoker, not the nicotine; an approach that looks at quitting as a joyous adventure; an approach that will make smokers laugh and feel good while they free themselves from their addiction; an approach that works. Dr. Joseph Cruse, founding medical director of the Betty Ford Center, applies addiction recovery techniques in this guidebook that will help every addicted smoker to announce with confidence, "I don't smoke!"—and mean it.

Negative Affective States and Cognitive Impairments in Nicotine Dependence is the only book of its kind that addresses nicotine use and abuse in the context of negative reinforcement mechanisms. Written and edited by leading investigators in addiction, affective, genetic, and cognitive research, it provides researchers and advanced students with an overview of the clinical bases of these effects, allowing them to fully understand the various underlying dysfunctions that drive nicotine use in different individuals. In addition, this book examines animal models that researchers have utilized to investigate the biological bases of these dysfunctions. The combination of clinical and preclinical approaches to understanding nicotine dependence makes this book an invaluable resource for researchers and practitioners seeking to develop targeted treatments aimed at ameliorating symptoms of nicotine dependence, as well as identifying premorbid differences in affective or cognitive function. - Provides a unique perspective on nicotine dependence that emphasizes negative reinforcement rather than positive reinforcement - Examines psychiatric comorbidities and alleviation of withdrawal states as motivation for continued tobacco use - Includes both clinical and preclinical perspectives - Includes genetic and multi-neurotransmitter perspectives on nicotine use and withdrawal - Emphasizes heterogeneity of underlying reasons for smoking, the need for multiple animal models to understand this heterogeneity, and the expectation of heterogeneous responses to potential treatments, underscoring the need for personalized therapeutics

Despite persistent warnings from the medical profession about the health risks involved in cigarette smoking, millions of people continue to smoke cigarettes. With contributions from renowned experts, this ground-breaking work defines and explains nicotine addiction as a primary problem or disease, instead of as a habit or risk factor for other diseases. A comprehensive, clinical text on tobacco dependence, this book provides clinicians with essential information on how to diagnose and treat nicotine addicted patients. It also offers the medical, epidemiological and behavioral science backgrounds necessary for understanding the process and dynamics of tobacco dependence. Following the traditional format of medical texts, the book first covers etiology, pathogenesis and complications, then diagnosis and treatment, and finally public health and prevention. Part One presents an overview of the biological, psychological and social factors that contribute to nicotine dependence including such topics as a description of nicotine delivery systems, psychopharmacology, economics, natural history and epidemiology, mortality, morbidity, and environmental tobacco smoke exposure. The second part offers practical guidelines and tools for treating nicotine dependence and describes a stepped-care treatment model with brief interventions that can be easily integrated into routine medical practice. This section also covers the role of psychopharmacologic and formal treatment programs, the treatment of smokeless tobacco addiction, and treating nicotine dependence in pregnant women and in people with medical illnesses, other chemical dependencies, or psychiatric disorders. The last section focuses on worksite and community intervention programs and summarizes the research on smoking patterns and history in women, Blacks, Hispanics, youth, and older adults, and shows how intervention and prevention programs could be made more effective in these groups. Written by the nation's leading tobacco control researchers and clinicians, this important work contains new and critical information not previously available.

This complete resource brings together personal stories of recovery, Twelve Step guidance, and 90 daily meditations to help us become nicotine-free. This complete resource brings together personal stories of recovery, Twelve Step guidance, and 90 daily meditations to help us become nicotine-free. If Only I Could Quit is written by one of Hazelden's most popular meditation authors and a recovering nicotine addict.

The primary purpose of this book and its companion volume The Behavioral Genetics of Nicotine and Tobacco is to explore the ways in which recent studies on nicotine and its role in tobacco addiction have opened our eyes to the psychopharmacological properties of this unique and fascinating drug. While The Behavioral Genetics of Nicotine and Tobacco considers the molecular and genetic factors which influence behavioral responses to nicotine and how these may impact on the role of nicotine in tobacco dependence, the present book focuses on the complex neural and psychological mechanisms that mediate nicotine dependence in experimental animal models and their relationship to tobacco addiction in humans. These volumes will provide readers a contemporary overview of current research on nicotine psychopharmacology and its role in tobacco dependence from leaders in this field of researchand will hopefully prove valuable to those who are developing their own research programmes in this important topic.