Yasmina Kattou / Photo credit: Philippe Huguen / AFP 09:59, May 31, 2023, modified at 10:01 am, May 31, 2023
Nearly 12 million French people smoke daily, reveals this Wednesday a study of Public Health France. And while 60% of them say they want to stop, one substance prevents them: nicotine. But where does it come from? And what impact does it have on our brain? Europe 1 takes stock.A coffee, a break with colleagues, a drink with friends and a common gesture for 12 million French people: light a cigarette. On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, Public Health France reveals that almost one in five French people smokes daily. Six out of ten smokers say they want to crush their cigarette butt for good. But quitting smoking is no small feat. Nicotine is a very, very addictive substance. Where does it come from? Europe 1 has looked into the issue.
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It was a French chemist, Louis-Nicolas Vauquelin, who discovered nicotine in tobacco leaves in 1809. But this substance bears his name in reference to Jean Nicot, who introduced tobacco in France and who, in the 16th century, was the first to send tobacco to Queen Catherine de Medici. Nicotine is mainly present in tobacco leaves, but also in those of eggplant or cauliflower.
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A similar addiction to cocaine
In our body, once inhaled, nicotine arrives in the brain in just ten seconds. In the pleasure-related area of dopamine, the feel-good hormone is then released. Over time, the body gets used to it and smokers smoke more. Weaning then becomes extremely difficult. Moreover, nicotine would have the same addictive effect as cocaine.