Nicotine News and Research

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Nicotine is an alkaloid found in the nightshade family of plants (''Solanaceae'') which constitutes approximately 0.6–3.0% of dry weight of tobacco, with biosynthesis taking place in the roots, and accumulating in the leaves.

Unregulated nicotine pouches gaining popularity among young people in Scotland

Young people in Scotland are experimenting with nicotine pouches and reporting adverse effects such as sickness and fainting, according to new research from the Scottish Centre for Social Research (ScotCen) published today in the journal Addiction.

7 Nov 2025

Daily vaping and failed quit attempts rise sharply among U.S. youth

Since 2019, overall rates of nicotine vaping have declined among U.S. youth, but those who continue to vape are showing signs of worsening addiction, according to new USC research.

3 Nov 2025

Heated tobacco and cigarettes cause the same gut and vascular damage, study finds

Italian researchers found that both heated tobacco products (HTPs) and conventional cigarettes trigger oxidative stress, endotoxemia, and gut barrier disruption in adults and children. The findings challenge the perception that HTPs are a safer alternative to smoking.

3 Nov 2025

Prescription drug advertising proves more effective in reducing smoking rates

A new peer-reviewed study in the INFORMS journal Marketing Science finds that direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising for prescription smoking-cessation drugs meaningfully reduces cigarette use. At the same time, the research found that advertising for over the counter (OTC) nicotine products does not reduce cigarette use.

22 Oct 2025

Cannabis and tobacco co-use linked to shifts in brain's 'bliss molecule'

People who use both cannabis and tobacco show distinct brain changes compared to those who use cannabis alone, according to a new study led by McGill University researchers at the Douglas Research Centre.

21 Oct 2025

Psychological fatigue poses major risk for returning smokers

The most reliable predictor of an ex-smoker's relapse isn't strong urges to smoke or low confidence in the ability to stay off tobacco – it's weariness with the efforts to remain a non-smoker, according to a new study published today in Addiction.

16 Oct 2025

Why improving LE8 scores could save young adults from diabetes

Young adults with prediabetes who maintained higher Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) cardiovascular health scores were far less likely to progress to type 2 diabetes over 13 years. Ideal LE8 profiles, particularly healthy weight, blood pressure, physical activity, and sleep, were strongly associated with regression to normal glucose levels.

14 Oct 2025

From stress to susceptibility: how COVID lockdowns shaped teen vaping risk

Teenagers who experienced higher COVID-19 stress during remote schooling were more likely to become open to trying vaping, which significantly increased their odds of using e-cigarettes and cannabis two years later. The study reveals that susceptibility, not immediate use, was the critical pathway linking early stress to later vaping behaviors.

12 Oct 2025

Portable sensor can accurately detect synthetic cannabinoids in e-cigarette and biological samples

Even though electronic cigarettes do not contain any illicit substances, the liquid can cause serious health problems.

9 Oct 2025

GLP-1 therapeutics may have the potential to treat alcohol and drug addiction

A popular class of therapies for treating diabetes and obesity may also have the potential to treat alcohol and drug addiction, according to a new paper published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.

9 Oct 2025

New WHO report highlights tobacco and e-cigarette trends

The world is smoking less, but the tobacco epidemic is far from over. A new WHO global report shows the number of tobacco users has dropped from 1.38 billion in 2000 to 1.2 billion in 2024.

7 Oct 2025

Many older adults meet criteria for ultra-processed food addiction

They were the first generation of Americans to grow up with ultra-processed foods all around them – products typically loaded with extra fat, salt, sugar and flavorings.

29 Sep 2025

Fathers who smoked as teens may accelerate their children's biological aging

People whose fathers smoked during puberty seem to age faster than expected, according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

29 Sep 2025

Study shows children inhale more microplastics inside school than outside

Researchers measured airborne microplastics and chemical additives in a Portuguese school near an industrial complex. They found higher levels indoors than outdoors, with children continuously exposed to a complex mix of pollutants.

10 Sep 2025

Nicotine pouch use may be a step toward reducing more dangerous forms of tobacco

As lawmakers and public health experts debate the safety of nicotine pouches, researchers from Rutgers Health found that for now, most adults that use these products also have a history of tobacco use and may be choosing these products as a possible step toward reducing or quitting more dangerous forms of nicotine delivery.

8 Sep 2025

New study explores how childhood social determinants impact young adult cardiovascular health

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death and disability for adults in the U.S. Recent projections from the American Heart Association suggest that by 2050, more than 45 million American adults will have clinical CVD and more than 184 million will have hypertension.

4 Sep 2025