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Addicted To Nicotine Gum

Discussion in 'Other Substances' started by ChloeDawn, Feb 17, 2016.

  1. ChloeDawn

    ChloeDawn Active Contributor

    When I used to work in a local pharmacy, I had a customer that would come in a few times a week and all he bought was nicotine gum. One day I asked him if it was helping him quit smoking because I was curious if it would help me. He told me that he didn't smoke at all. He had quit 12 years ago and now was so addicted to the nicotine gum that he had a piece in his mouth at all times unless he was eating. If nicotine gum is this addictive, wouldn't it be as dangerous for people as chewing tobacco or snuff? Why is it considered a good thing when you are trading one addiction for another?
  2. kgord

    kgord Community Champion

    Well you aren't inhaling it into your lungs for one thing. Also, there is no danger to others from second hand smoke. I would say that guy is probably big time mis using it. I mean it wasn't meant to be an aid to quit smoking, not to get hooked on. I am sure that the dangers from cancers of the mouth would be just as dangerous with nicotine gum, but I am no expert.
    ChloeDawn likes this.
  3. Mara

    Mara Community Champion

    Nicotine is addictive that is why it's not really advisable to use nicotine gum when trying to quit smoking. It has a lot of side effects, like increased heart rate and blood pressure, anxiety, irritability, dizziness, not to mention oral problems. It's almost the same as smoking a cigarette.
    ChloeDawn likes this.
  4. deanokat

    deanokat DrugAbuse.com Community Organizer Community Listener

    I never considered using nicotine gum when I quit smoking, for just this reason. I didn't want to become addicted to the drug in a different form. Was quitting cold turkey harder? I'm sure it was. But when I was done, I was done. And I was happy about that.
    ChloeDawn likes this.
  5. Tsky45

    Tsky45 Community Champion

    I never knew you could get addicted to this gum. I heard it could be bad for your health to chew this too much. There's something in the gum that makes you quit smoking, that's what could have this guy addicted to it. It's better to trade a healthier addiction for a unhealthy one.
    ChloeDawn likes this.
  6. deanokat

    deanokat DrugAbuse.com Community Organizer Community Listener

    It's the nicotine in the gum that people get addicted to. Just like cigarettes.
    ChloeDawn likes this.
  7. Nancy D.

    Nancy D. Senior Contributor

    Can you get mouth cancer from nicotine gum? A shame people can get addicted from something that is suppose to help alleviate an addiction. What is this world coming to...soon there will be a special product to get off of nicotine gum addiction.
  8. morgoodie

    morgoodie Senior Contributor

    I never could understand the concept of the gum when it had nicotine in it just as cigarettes. I knew someone who was trying to quit smoking and used the nicotine gum to help him. Well, instead of smoking cigarettes he became addicted to the gum instead. So while it was better for his lungs, he was still putting nicotine in his system. To me, using the gum defeats the purpose of quitting smoking since it is just another form of the same drug.
    deanokat likes this.