Every once in a while I still give in. Now, scientists have begun to unlock the secrets behind addiction, whether to nicotine, marijuana, alcohol, or any other drug. One recent study zeroed in on a specific brain protein, called beta 2 subunit , that is essential to nicotine addiction. Without this protein in their brains, lab mice don't experience nicotine's pleasurable sensations. They don't crave or get addicted to the drug.
Scientists hope such studies can lead to better methods for treating nicotine addiction.
Not every smoker is addicted to nicotine. About one in 10 is an occasional smoker, can pass on a cigarette for days without suffering from withdrawal symptoms, like wrenching headaches or intense cravings. But the vast majority of smokers become hooked on nicotine. The key may lie in brain chemistry. In the brain, nicotine stimulates the release of dopamine , a chemical or neurotransmitter that allows communication between nerve cells.