Not sure what we are to do with this information.
Lobby for low cost nicotine gum.
You can buy cigs at your corner store- but not the gum...
Availability[edit]
Various policies exist worldwide as to the accessibility of these medications. Originally (in the 1980s) gum was sold only by prescription.
In most of the
EU and the USA, nicotine gum is currently
[update] available at
pharmacies over-the-counter subject to the same restrictions on underage purchases as
tobacco. Depending upon jurisdiction and pharmacy the purchaser may be directed to the
pharmacist, or nicotine gum may be purchased off-the-shelf. If sold where tobacco products are also sold, the display of the nicotine therapy products may be adjacent to the tobacco display.
In New Zealand (and now Australia) nicotine gum and patches are classified General Sale and can be sold in outlets other than pharmacies, e.g. petrol stations and supermarkets. This has resulted in a steep fall in the retail price, particularly from online New Zealand stores.
This trend away from only being sold
over the counter (S3) at pharmacies also followed in Australia with sharp price falls in the last year[ref=2010] and wide availability. Nicotine gum, lozenges and similar preparations can be now readily found on the shelf in the medicinal aisle of most major chain supermarkets and can be purchased alongside other grocery items.
In the United Kingdom many NRT products are available in shops, supermarkets, petrol stations and even schools, although an age limit of 12 is required. Own-brand NRT products are available from some pharmacy chains. The
National Health Service (NHS) provides NRT at a discounted price or free of charge.
In
Hong Kong the large chain pharmacist shops usually, but not always, require the purchaser of the stronger therapy (4 mg dose) to sign a register with passport number or Hong Kong ID.
Side effects[edit]
Health effects of nicotine[edit]
Chewing nicotine gum increases the risk of heart disease although this is still debated.
[2] Nicotine is a
vasoconstrictor; it constricts
arteries, which increases the resistance against which the heart has to pump blood, effectively making it harder for the
heart to
pump blood through the
body. The result is enhanced shear stress on vessel walls, and repeated nicotine exposure contributes to accelerated health problems that are a function of chronic vascular injury such as
coronary artery disease, acute
cardiac ischemic events, and
hypertension[3] Additionally, studies have shown that nicotine exposure contributes to
stroke,
peptic ulcer disease, and
esophageal reflux.
[3] Further, nicotine may cause wounds to heal more slowly and may be associated with reproductive toxicity.
[3] Moreover, nicotine can cause the body to release its stores of fat and cholesterol into the blood.[4]
Nicotine has been correlated in vitro with increased expression of a gene associated with oral cancer;
[5] the researchers say their work "raises the possibility that nicotine could potentially increase the risk of mouth cancer. We want to stress, however, that further research is needed to conclusively determine whether this is indeed the case. There is no doubt however about the harmful effects of smoking, so smokers should make every effort to quit."
[6] Professor Robert West points out that there are no epidemiological studies showing a correlation between nicotine replacement therapy and oral cancer.
[6]
There is evidence that nicotine has the potential to prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease.[7] Nicotine has been shown to delay the onset of Parkinson's disease in studies involving monkeys and humans.[8][9][10] A study has shown a protective effect of nicotine itself on neurons due to nicotine activation of α7-nAChR and the PI3K/Akt pathway which inhibits apoptosis-inducing factor release and mitochondrial translocation, cytochrome c release and caspase 3 activation.[11]
Research at Duke University Medical Center found that nicotine may improve the symptoms of depression.[12] Nicotine appears to improve ADHD symptoms. Some studies have focused on benefits of nicotine therapy in adults with ADHD.[13]
