Glossary
Addiction: A chronic, relapsing
disease characterized by compulsive
drug seeking and abuse and
by long-lasting neurochemical and
molecular changes in the brain.
Adrenal glands: Glands located
above each kidney that secrete
hormones, e.g., adrenaline.
Craving: A powerful, often uncontrollable
desire for drugs.
Dopamine: A neurotransmitter
present in regions of the brain that
regulate movement, emotion, motivation,
and feelings of pleasure.
Emphysema: A lung disease in
which tissue deterioration results
in increased air retention and
reduced exchange of gases. The
result is difficulty breathing and
shortness of breath.
Neurotransmitter: A chemical that
acts as a messenger to carry signals
or information from one nerve
cell to another.
Nicotine: An alkaloid derived from
the tobacco plant that is primarily
responsible for smoking’s psychoactive
and addictive effects.
Pharmacokinetics: The pattern
of absorption, distribution, and
excretion of a drug over time.
Tobacco: A plant widely cultivated
for its leaves, which are used primarily
for smoking; the N. tabacum
species is the major source of
tobacco products.
Withdrawal: A variety of symptoms
that occur after chronic use
of an addictive drug is reduced
or stopped.
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