Nicknames for Nicotine
- A nickname for nicotine is cancer sticks.
- Some common nicknames for nicotine include "nic," "nick," "nico," and "niccy."
- You might hear cigarettes referred to as "smokes," "cigs," or "butts."
- Street names for cigarettes are ciggies, darts, durries, rollies, smokes, fags, butts, cancer sticks.
What is Nicotine?
Nicotine is an alkaloid found in tobacco plants. It is addictive and toxic. Pure nicotine is a poisonous, oily liquid. When exposed to air or light it turns brown and smells like tobacco. Nicotine stimulates nerves and muscles but blocks signals between nerves. It increases heart rate and alertness but also suppresses appetite and increases blood pressure.
Nicotine reaches the brain quickly when inhaled. It is one of the most addictive drugs. Withdrawal causes irritability, anxiety, sleep problems, and cravings. Nicotine is not very harmful itself but almost all nicotine comes from tobacco. Tobacco smoke causes cancer, heart and lung disease, and other health problems.
The tobacco plant makes nicotine in its roots. The nicotine moves up into leaves, where it can be up to 3% of the dry weight. Nicotine has a pyridine ring fused to a pyrrolidine ring in its molecular structure. Its full chemical name is 3-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)pyridine.
Nicotine was first extracted from tobacco in 1828. Since the 1500s tobacco has been used around the world for social, medical, and spiritual purposes. Today nicotine is still mainly consumed by smoking cigarettes. It is also consumed through other tobacco products, vaping devices, medications, and nicotine replacement therapy.