What is Nicotine? The Ultimate Guide

What is Nicotine?

Nicotine is a naturally occurring chemical found in several varieties of plant – including tomatoes, eggplants and potatoes, but the highest levels of nicotine can be found in the tobacco plant. When you use tobacco products like cigarettes, snus or nicotine pouches, nicotine enters your body and quickly travels to your brain. Once there, it attaches to specific receptors, triggering the release of dopamine, a feel-good chemical that creates a sense of pleasure and reward.

The Effects of Nicotine

Nicotine is a stimulant, which means it revs up your nervous system, giving you a boost of energy and increasing alertness. It can also enhance concentration and improve focus.

However, like all things in life, nicotine can have both positive and negative effects. On the positive side, it can provide a temporary sense of relaxation, improved focus, and increased alertness. However, it's important to remember that nicotine is highly addictive and overuse of nicotine can result in a nicotine overdose.

Long Term Effects of Nicotine

What are the effects of nicotine pouches after long term use? Long-term nicotine use can have various effects on the body including:

• It can lead to addiction and dependence.
• Potential impacts on heart health - with increased heart rate and blood pressure.
• Potential impacts to your oral health, causing gum disease and tooth loss in some cases.

Where Does Nicotine Come From?

Nicotine can come from two places: it is a natural chemical found in tobacco plants or it can be synthesized in a lab.

What is Tobacco Free Nicotine?

Tobacco Free Nicotine (also known as TFN) is nicotine that is made in a lab - not extracted from the tobacco leaf - and is also known as synthetic nicotine. Tobacco Free Nicotine, due to the fact it is synthetic, will not contain any part of a tobacco plant in the final product.

What is Synthetic Nicotine?

Synthetic nicotine is the same as TFN: it is a form of nicotine created in a laboratory instead of being extracted from tobacco plants. It is structurally and chemically identical to nicotine derived from tobacco, but it is not considered to come from tobacco because it doesn't come from the tobacco plant itself.
Producing synthetic nicotine is often a longer and more expensive process compared to the process of extracting nicotine from tobacco leaves, but it is a way to produce nicotine without tobacco.

What is Tobacco-Leaf Free Nicotine?

Tobacco-leaf free nicotine refers to the nicotine that is extracted from the tobacco-leaf. When tobacco leaves are harvested, processed, and dried, nicotine accumulates in the leaves. The nicotine can then be extracted these leaves and used in nicotine products (such as nicotine pouches).

Nicotine Salts vs Freebase Nicotine

You may have come across the terms “nicotine salts” and “freebase nicotine” - but what is salt nicotine and what is freebase nicotine? Both are forms of nicotine commonly used in vape products, but there are some major differences between the two:

• Freebase nicotine is the most commonly used form of nicotine. It is a liquid form of nicotine that has often been used in vapes. Freebase nicotine acts fast and provides a strong nicotine hit.
  
  
• Nicotine salts are used in newer vapes. They are formed by combining nicotine with an organic acid, for a smoother experience compared to the experience you have from freebase nicotine.

The Future of Nicotine: Embracing Innovation for a Sustainable World

In a rapidly evolving world, innovation and technological advancements play a crucial role in addressing global challenges. Synthetic nicotine, produced in laboratories rather than from tobacco plants, has emerged as a potential game-changer that could impact the environment, public health, and the tobacco industry.

While most nicotine products currently derive nicotine from tobacco plants, offering safer alternatives to smokers is vital, considering the harmful effects of tobacco smoking. However, the production of synthetic nicotine has been relatively costly compared to plant-based nicotine, making it less common in products.

Tobacco cultivation has detrimental effects on the environment, contributing to high carbon emissions, deforestation, and pesticide use. These environmental concerns call for sustainable alternatives that minimize the tobacco industry's impact.

Technological advances have historically driven positive change and improved living standards. By harnessing innovation, we can address pressing issues like climate change and resource scarcity. Synthetic nicotine, similar to the electrification of transport, has the potential to transform the tobacco industry and reduce its harmful effects on both people and the environment.

Just as the electrification of vehicles challenges traditional norms, synthetic nicotine could disrupt the tobacco industry and mitigate its carbon emissions. While synthetic nicotine is currently less common in Europe, it is gaining traction in the US, paving the way for a more sustainable future.