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Is nicotine more addictive than cocaine?
J E Henningfield1, C Cohen, J D Slade
1Clinical Pharmacology Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD 21224.
British Journal of Addiction
|May 1, 1991
Summary
Nicotine is not more addictive than cocaine, despite popular claims. Both substances are highly addictive, with use influenced by various external and pharmacological factors.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Addiction Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Claims that nicotine is more addictive than cocaine are prevalent.
- These claims are often based on comparisons of daily tobacco use progression and addiction percentages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the addictive potential of nicotine and cocaine.
- To evaluate whether nicotine can be considered more addictive than cocaine based on established criteria.
Main Methods:
- Reviewed mortality patterns associated with nicotine and cocaine use.
- Assessed the physical dependence potential of both substances.
- Examined pharmacologic addiction liability measures for nicotine and cocaine.
Main Results:
- Evidence does not support nicotine being more addictive than cocaine.
- Both nicotine and cocaine demonstrate high addiction liability.
- Factors like availability, price, social influences, and regulations impact drug use and dependence.
Conclusions:
- On current evidence, nicotine is not more addictive than cocaine.
- Both drugs are highly addicting, with use patterns influenced by a complex interplay of factors.
- Further research into the multifaceted nature of drug addiction is warranted.