Name that Drug!!

Ok it has been a little while since we’ve played this game so let’s give it a go again.   It’s time to play name that drug.  For those new to this game, I’ll give you a few clues to the identity of a drug and you see if you can guess it before the end.  Ok, so put on your thinking caps and let’s begin.

Facts:  This drug isn’t normally thought of as a drug, but it is, and it’s very addictive as well.  The addictiveness is actually the plants way of protecting itself from being eaten by insects.  This drug has proven to be as, or more deadly than both strychnine and arsenic.  Even with those stats, its chemical signature fits a host of locks in the human brain, including dopamine.

Signs and symptoms:  A serious attempt to stop using this drug is usually unsuccessful. You will experience withdrawal symptoms as you attempt to stop using it. The use of this drug is connected to several health issues, and can restrict activities and life.

Other names:  This particular drug doesn’t have any slang names that are commonly used.

Ok so have you figured it out yet?  Or did I totally confuse you by the lack of some facts?  This drug is nicotine.  Nicotine?  Really?  Yes the one drug most people don’t think of as a drug yet is as addicting as any other illegal drug out there.  It is the one drug that once you arrest your addiction to it, if you use it even once you will want to go back for more.  The reason is that our brain’s priorities have been wired to the feelings that nicotine created over the years of use.  Doctors don’t really understand why some people seem to become addicted and others can casually use tobacco and not have the addiction to it that others do.   Nicotine has routinely been used as an insecticide even in modern times but the pure form of nicotine has been replaced with a chemically similar but less dangerous substance.  It is one crazy drug in the fact that we use it to kill off pests in the pure form but as a plant, like tobacco, we are totally addicted to it.