around 25% of american population smoke 

most people who smoke are 18-25 years old 

mostly men

less educated and wealthy people tend to smoke more even though it is harder for them to afford 

all smokers live shorter lives 

first gaining popularity in the early 20th century 

steedly increased during and following WWI

declined during the great depression

increased largely again during WWII 

leveled off after the war 

decreased in the 50's when studies linked cancer to smoking 

increased after the sale of filtered cigs 

decreased 1964 with first surgeon general 

as a result advertisments were direct to women sales increased 

70s anti smoking commericals decreased smoking 

continue to declined with double tax 

binds up hemoglobin (transports oxygen) 

interfers with ability of oxygen to get through your body 

reduces amount of hemoglobin availble for binding oxygen 

deprives body tissues of oxygen

shortness of breath

makes it hard for air sacs to expand 

cause shortness of breath

nicotine enters the body on tar which are carcinogenic 

tar ties up cilia (move stuff away from lungs)

so they cant brush away harmful particles from the air way 

causes coughing because cilia air becomes hard 

alters the brain chemistry- addictive part 

reaches the brain in about 7 seconds 

70-80% of nicotine is broken down by liver enyzme cytochrome 

transformed into cotinine 

nicotine binds to nicotinic (cholinergic) repectors which release dopamine and acetylcholine 

increases concentration reaction time, improves memory, enhances mood, stimulates vomitting, 

cause tremors. 

the idea that smokers adjust their rate of smoking in order to achieve a certain level of nicotine 

smokers smoke more often with low nicotine cigs and smoke less with high nicotine cigs 

when nicotine blood levels fall below a certain point smokers will smoke in order to avoid withdrawal 

stop smoking to avoid toxic affects at higher levels 

reaches the blood in about 7 seconds. 

by puff by puff delivery 

70-80% of nicotine is broken down by liver enzyme cytochrome 

transformed into cotinine (half life of 12-24 hr half life. 

genetic variations in CYP2A6 results in reduced metabolism associated with reduced smoking 

metabolized by liver mostly, but also kidneys and lungs 

primarly excreted in the urine (10-20%) 

but also sweat saliva and in womens breast milk 

Methoxsalen mimics a genetic variation which lets the body metabolize nicotine

nicotine receptors found in the brain

specifically in the reward pathways (VTA and substantia nigra) 

also under the muscarinic category which is located in the post ganglionic neurons 

Parasympathetic area and some sympathetic 

nicotine receptors are sensitive to nicotine and there for called high affinity receptors 

which means that ligand binding results from greater intermolecular force 

nicotine is especially effective to receptors in releasing certain neuotransmitters ( dopamine, acetycholine) 

nicotine affects the PNS

increased blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tremors, killing taste bugs

also affect the CNS

enhancing cognitive function and inducing relaxation 

drug initially for lowering blood pressure 

nicotinic antagonist by blocking the rewarding effects of nicotine. 

at high doses induces drowsiness hypotension and constipation 

increases HR and BP which can cause multiple heart problems 

CO inhibits oxygen delivery so the heart has to pump harder increasing risk of heart problems 

tar- lungs cant expand all the way develop lung tumors or problems 

smokers cough 

cilia can no longer remove the flem 

carcinogens cause cancer 

incubation period development takes a long time, which is why people dont immediatly stop smoking

liquid cocaine- 280 mg/ 8oz 

coffee 100mh/5oz

red bull 80mg/8oz 

choc bar 40mg 

tea 35mg/5oz 

quickly absorded from the GI (stomach/intestine) 

crosses blood brain barrier 

peak level in the body 15-45 minutes 

half life of 1 to 3 days 

metabolized by liver 

excreted by the kidneys 

inhibits neuromodulator called adenosine (inhibits realse of transmitters) 

SNS activation ( fight or flight) and release of transmitters 

adrenaline release from adrenal gland/ SNS activation

start with fruit or grain (grapes- wine, grain beer)

sugar content expose to air 

microorganisms grow (yeast) 

as it grows devours the sugar

as sugar content decreases 

alcohol level increases through fermentation 

leaves you with ethyl alcohol which is 10-15% alcohol 

distill the ethyl (increase alcohol level) by boiling

pull out water and concentrate alcohol 

fermentation- yeast eats sugar molecules raising ethanol content 

Distillation- process by which the fermented mixture increases its alcohol content (boiling) 

inhibits frontal cortex 

cognitive function impaired 

inhibits cerebellum 

reaction time slowed

hand/eye coordination 

Brainstem- lower heart rate, BP breathing and other vital functions  

acetaldhyde build up- vomitting induced 

loss of inhibition, impaired judgement, changes in emotion and mood, aggression and sexual behavior 

causes unpleasant effects when even small amounts of alcohol consumed, 

headache, nausea, vomitting, chest pain, weakness, blurred vision

used as a deterrent against alcohol for addicts 

interfers with aldehyde dehydrogenase so acetaldehyde doesnt metabolize

associate drinking with nausea 

intended to reduce craving and severity of any relapses to alcohol that occur after abstinence 

works as an antagonist by regulating dopamine levels 

acts on the opioids (pain reduction/endorphins) by modulating DA by releasing more 

when you drink opioids increase 

reinforces drinking by positive effect (DA release) 

glumate effect on memory 

hippocampus has NMDA receptors for glutamate, how we form memories 

if alcohol levels are high enough they will inhibit/impair glutamate to effect NMDA receptors 

which causes black out 

enhances its action.

GABA hyperpolarizes cells by letting Chloride into the cell 

also have receptor cells for alcohol 

when you add alcohol it will bind with GABA causing even more hyperpolarization of the cell 

HR BP ad breath rate are all inhibited

leads to passing out 

heat loss,

you feel hot because your blood cells rush to the surface of your skin

but body temp is decreasing

increased urination

reduces amounnt of body fat that is oxidized because alcohol serves as cheap fuel and is burned quicker than fat (long term weight gain) 

disruption of sleep patterns ( suppresses REM sleep) 

impairs memory via effects on glutamate 

vision decreases in accuracy, taste and smell are not as sensitive 

overall sensitivity is decreased (touch, pain) 

body cant remain still 

alcohol and driving accidents 

loss of inhibition (act out of character) 

impaired judgment 

changes in emotion and mood (friendliness, percpetion of words)

aggression of sexual behavior is also altered 

accumulation of triglycerides in the liver cells 

its just fat storage but at higher levels it impairs livers metabolic ability 

can be reversed after you stop drinking

liver cell damage due to increased levels of acetaldehyde in the body 

very hard on liver cells  because the acetalkehyde doesnt break down (dehydrogenase doesnt work fast enough)

causes scar tissue where cells can not re grow 

not proven but could possibly lead to cirrhosis 

death of the liver cells resulting in scar tissue 

no functioning cells

most serious life threatening illness cause my alcohol 

can cause liver failure 

irreversible condition 

average life expectancy after diagnosis is 5 years 

develops after 30-40 years of heavy drinking

result of alcohols inhibitory effect of the body ability to absorb vitamin b 1 

leads to neuron death without B1

causes serious memory impairment 

opens cavities in the brain, causing them to die 

causes confusion, confabulation, and dimension

prenatal exposure leads to fetal alcohol syndrome 

severity depends on amount of alcohol pregnant mother consumes and how often 

low birth weight, slow cognitive development, slow physical development, and craniofacial deformality (eyes slanted, flat face, larger distance from nose to mouth)

breeding rats who prefer alcohol to water for several generations 

eventually females will drink during pregnancy 

can examine the genes and effects/ differences in rats exposed to alcohol in uterus 

let them grow up to see if you can do anything to aid development 

you can overcome some of the physical disabilties with fetal alcohol syndrome