Smoking and Drinking Pleasure Link

Tobacco and alcohol are often linked through smoky bars and joint addiction, but new research conducted at the Howard University College of Medicine in Washington may explain why 'ocassional smokers' claim they only smoke while they are drinking.

A report in the March issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research claims that combining the two causes the brain to release higher levels of pleasure-inducing chemicals.

In a laboratory experiment, researchers administered doses of nicotine and alcohol to rats. This resulted in an increased release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter which affects ability to experience pleasure and pain. Researchers believe this may explain why smoking is often linked with alcoholism.

However, the implications of the study in humans may not be so clear cut. In the study "alcohol and nicotine are administered one time only, while in humans we are typically seeing an effect over a long period of time", commented Dr David Overstreet.

Friday, 24 May 2002