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Preferred term

tobacco and nicotine dependence  

Definition

  • Tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco (i.e., snuff and chewing tobacco) contain nicotine, a psychoactive drug. Repeated use of tobacco can lead to nicotine dependence, which is characterized by a craving for tobacco, loss of control over the use of tobacco, physiological tolerance (i.e., needing more of the drug to get the same desired effect), and distressing symptoms of nicotine withdrawal (e.g., irritability, difficulty concentrating, negative moods, and increased hunger) after abstaining from tobacco for as few as 1 to 2 hours. [Source: Encyclopedia of Lifestyle Medicine & Health; Tobacco and Nicotine Dependence]

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https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/tobacco_and_nicotine_dependence

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