Adolescents undergoing a lot of changes in their lives experience uncertainty and feelings of depression, he said. Nicotine via cigarettes is an easily available, sexually advertised substance that affects the pleasure center in the brain. But to achieve that same good feeling over time, they have to smoke more. The problem is that if teenagers try to stop anywhere along the line, then the brain is deprived of an accustomed stimulant and feelings of depression return. That's why it's so hard for adults to quit smoking, he said.
Women have a harder time in breaking the addiction than men.
Some have suggested a sex difference in the density of nicotine receptors in the brain. Windle posited another explanation. Women, however, internalize negative emotions more than men and push their feelings down by smoking. All rights reserved. Click here to read the latest Wellness stories.