BrownNWG OP t1_j5lfxvq wrote on January 23, 2023 at 9:05 PM

Reply to comment by huh_phd in We are the Brown University Nicotine Working Group. We study the causes, consequences, and treatments of nicotine and tobacco use. We're here to answer questions about anything we have the knowledge to answer related to tobacco use, ask us anything! by BrownNWG

>What's inherently so bad about nicotine? Yes it's toxic but so is caffeine. Why don't we have nicotine drinks or something similar to wean people off nicotine in a slow controlled manner?

Copying part of our response above: you are right that there is little and inconsistent evidence for long-term harm from low doses of nicotine in adults. However, nicotine can be especially harmful for the developing brain (which includes young people and the developing fetus). The biology of nicotine dependence is different from caffeine. Brain changes from nicotine are larger than from caffeine. Nicotine replacement therapies (such as patch, gum) help people wean off nicotine in a slow and controlled manner. A nicotine drink is an interesting idea!