From a chemical point of view, tobacco smoke is an aerosol, a mixture of various gases (gas phase) in which particles 0.1 to 1 mm in size (particle phase) are dissolved. In total, more than 4000 different substances have been detected so far. It is not nicotine, but the numerous other smoke constituents that are held responsible for the extremely serious damage caused by smoking.
The substance decisive for the psychotropic effect is nicotine, the main alkaloid of the tobacco plant. The effect of nicotine is inconsistent. In small doses the stimulation predominates, in higher doses the deadening.
In Germany, about 140,000 people die each year as a result of smoking; worldwide, the figure is about 3.5 million. Smoking is thus the most important preventable cause of disability and premature death in industrialised countries. Smoking is a major risk factor for:
For the medical and nursing staff, discussions with affected patients about addictive substance use are therefore rarely purposeful and are often experienced as frustrating.
Learn moreIn our prevention outpatient clinic for addiction you can get help and answers to questions about intoxication with alcohol, medication or illegal drugs as well as tobacco addiction.
Learn moreThe ICD-10 lists six criteria, three of which must have occurred simultaneously in the last 12 months for a diagnosis of tobacco dependence to be made:
In the treatment of tobacco dependence, the Fagerström test for nicotine dependence (FTND) has become established as a diagnostic tool, as it captures the dimension of dependence.
The FTND value is helpful for the dosage of the medicinal therapy with nicotine substitutes.
Perform test
Diagnostic criteria according to ICD
Nicotine withdrawal syndrome
Evidence of the use and consumption of tobacco by humans can be found as far back as about 10,000 years ago. At that time, the tobacco plant was used and consumed by the Central and North American peoples for religious, cultural and medicinal purposes. After the discovery of America by the Spanish conquerors, the tobacco plant reached the European continent in the 15th century.
In addition to the initial use of tobacco as a medicinal plant, the consumption of tobacco as a stimulant also increased among the European population from this time onwards. Whereas tobacco was initially consumed mainly in the form of pipe smoking and snuff sniffing, with the onset of industrialisation in the 18th century consumption shifted to cigars and cigarettes. Due to industrial mass production, cigarettes are now the most widespread form of tobacco consumption.
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