Passage
The highly addictive nature of cigarettes can be partly explained by how nicotine, the primary addictive ingredient, is administered. The fastest route of administration for most drugs is through inhalation; cigarette smoking results in the transmission of nicotine to the brain in about 15 seconds. In the brain, nicotine activates the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, which stimulate the brain's reward pathway and produce mild feelings of euphoria. Those who quit smoking often relapse due to stress, weight gain, and withdrawal symptoms such as cravings and irritability. Of those who attempt to quit without formal treatment, only 3%-5% remain abstinent after a year.Research suggests that mindfulness meditation-based programs can be an effective strategy to quit smoking. Mindfulness is an aspect of meditation that involves cultivating a nonjudgmental awareness of the thoughts, emotions, and sensations arising in the present moment.For one study, researchers randomly assigned 88 smokers to either Mindfulness Training (MT) or the Freedom From Smoking (FFS) intervention developed by the American Lung Association. Both groups participated in 90-minute group training sessions twice a week for four weeks. The FFS intervention educated participants on the negative health consequences of smoking, coping strategies for cravings, and the development of healthy lifestyle habits. The MT intervention taught mindfulness meditation techniques as a way of gaining awareness and acceptance of the cognitive, emotional, and physical components of cravings. The number of cigarettes smoked per day and self-reported abstinence, as verified by exhaled carbon monoxide, were measured at the end of treatment and at a 17-week follow-up for participants in each group (Figure 1) .
Figure 1 Percentage of participants in each group abstinent at the end of treatment and at 17-week follow-up (* indicates p < 0.05)
-Which of the following may be involved with physical drug dependence?Neurochemical changes in the brainWithdrawal symptoms with cessation of drug useTolerance to the drug used

Question

Passage
The highly addictive nature of cigarettes can be partly explained by how nicotine, the primary addictive ingredient, is administered. The fastest route of administration for most drugs is through inhalation; cigarette smoking results in the transmission of nicotine to the brain in about 15 seconds. In the brain, nicotine activates the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, which stimulate the brain's reward pathway and produce mild feelings of euphoria. Those who quit smoking often relapse due to stress, weight gain, and withdrawal symptoms such as cravings and irritability. Of those who attempt to quit without formal treatment, only 3%-5% remain abstinent after a year.Research suggests that mindfulness meditation-based programs can be an effective strategy to quit smoking. Mindfulness is an aspect of meditation that involves cultivating a nonjudgmental awareness of the thoughts, emotions, and sensations arising in the present moment.For one study, researchers randomly assigned 88 smokers to either Mindfulness Training (MT) or the Freedom From Smoking (FFS) intervention developed by the American Lung Association. Both groups participated in 90-minute group training sessions twice a week for four weeks. The FFS intervention educated participants on the negative health consequences of smoking, coping strategies for cravings, and the development of healthy lifestyle habits. The MT intervention taught mindfulness meditation techniques as a way of gaining awareness and acceptance of the cognitive, emotional, and physical components of cravings. The number of cigarettes smoked per day and self-reported abstinence, as verified by exhaled carbon monoxide, were measured at the end of treatment and at a 17-week follow-up for participants in each group (Figure 1) .

Figure 1 Percentage of participants in each group abstinent at the end of treatment and at 17-week follow-up (* indicates p < 0.05)
-Which of the following may be involved with physical drug dependence?Neurochemical changes in the brainWithdrawal symptoms with cessation of drug useTolerance to the drug used

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Drug addiction (continued drug use despite negative physical, emotional, financial, or social consequences) is often accompanied by physical dependence, psychological dependence (eg, cravings, inability to experience pleasure without the drug), or both. Physical dependence is most likely to occur after repeated and consistent drug use, usually for an extended period. Neurochemical changes, withdrawal symptoms, and tolerance may all occur with physical dependence. Neurochemical changes (Number I): Repeated exposure to a drug can change the availability of neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft, modify the strength or number of connections between neurons, alter neurotransmitter production, and/or change the number of neurotransmitter receptors. Withdrawal symptoms (Number II): Depending on the drug, cessation may cause withdrawal symptoms (eg, nausea, insomnia, headaches) that can range from mild to severely debilitating. Tolerance (Number III): After repeated drug use, many users need greater doses to experience the same effect (eg, feeling "high") as when initially using the drug. Tolerance is largely mediated by neurochemical changes such as an increase in the number of receptors that respond to the drug or a decrease in the endogenous substances that are mimicked by the drug. Educational objective: Physical dependence on a drug may involve neurochemical changes, withdrawal symptoms on removal of the drug, and tolerance to the drug used (ie, needing greater amounts to feel the same effects).

Passage The Highly Addictive Nature of Cigarettes Can Be Partly Explained