Do Cigarettes Get You High?

Many studies have shown that cigarettes can cause a wide variety of illnesses once you smoke them regularly. These products, after all, contain tobacco. While it has been the main source of nicotine, it has also been found to be the primary cause of illnesses due to tar, carcinogens, and other chemicals that tobacco smoke produces.

But, are there any more effects of cigarettes that you may not know?

Some smokers have reported that they get a certain high whenever they puff a cigarette. And for many cigarette smokers out there, this particular sensation somehow helps them temporarily forget problems that they may be facing.

However, is there a scientific reason behind this? Do cigarettes truly get you high? Can they serve as a gateway to other substances that cause tobacco addiction and a euphoric sensation?

Read on to find out more about tobacco use and whether cigarettes can get you high.

Do You Really Get High off of Cigarettes?

The harmful effects of smoking tobacco products like cigarettes have already been established and found by many researchers in the medical field. These products, after all, contain over 100 dangerous chemicals that can damage your body in multiple ways.

One of these chemicals is carbon monoxide. It prevents a certain amount of oxygen from reaching your heart, which causes your airways to swell up and deter air from entering your lungs. Tar is another chemical that’s being released by tobacco products. It damages your lungs and can cause lung disease, making it harder to breathe.

Other harmful chemicals produced by tobacco products like cigarettes include phenols, tiny particles, ammonia, formaldehyde, and cancer-causing chemicals. 

But even if you just smoked a cigarette once, it can already cause many adverse effects in your body.

According to a report from the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General, even a whiff of a tobacco product like a cigarette can have a negative impact on your body right away.

Immediately after puffing a cigarette, you’ll feel the lining of your nose and esophagus becoming red and irritated from the smoke and its chemicals. You may then start to cough. Other effects of smoking a cigarette include dry mouth, bad breath, and discoloration of teeth, gums, and lips. 

After 20 minutes, nicotine from the cigarette enters your bloodstream, which increases your blood pressure and pulse. You’ll then feel the urge to eat something, but if you don’t satisfy your nicotine cravings, you’ll immediately feel irritable. 

Eight to 48 hours later, the excess mucus generated to protect your lungs will start to drain. The nicotine and carbon monoxide in your system will also leave. 

By this time, your senses will begin to return to normal as they have been impeded by the nicotine from cigarette smoking for a couple of minutes.

One question, however, remains. Can you get high off of a cigarette?

As mentioned before, cigarettes contain tobacco. This particular ingredient is the main source of nicotine, which can be transferred into your bloodstream once a cigarette is lit up. 

Even in one puff of the cigarette, its nicotine immediately flows into your body system. As a result, you’ll feel a brief kick or buzz that resembles the sensation of getting high.

It’s important to note that nicotine doesn’t get you high. So, cigarettes don’t have the capacity to provide a “high” sensation that one may get from taking psychoactive substances. 

Instead, this particular chemical can trigger an adrenaline release, which makes you feel good temporarily. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse ( NIDA), the nicotine from the cigarette provides you with “a sense of well-being and relaxation.” It is also delivered to your body quickly but lasts far less than the high often obtained when taking drugs.

In one cigarette, it’s expected for a smoker to finish it in about 10 puffs. And since every puff can already give you a quick nicotine buzz, consuming 20 cigarettes in a day can guarantee you at least 200 quick nicotine kicks.

These nicotine hits make cigarettes an alternative for adults who want to mimic the feeling of high without taking psychoactive substances or illegal drugs. These hits are different from the euphoric feeling of taking the said drugs and substances since they don’t generate distinct sensory and emotional changes.

When you get high, you may experience different effects from the drugs or substances you take. During the peak, you will most likely experience the euphoric effect. You may also feel relaxed, amused, giggly, and creative. 

Sometimes, however, you may feel hungry, sleepy, anxious, and paranoid about your surroundings. You may also become more sensitive to light, sound, colour, touch, taste, and smell. Other unpleasant feelings or experiences you may encounter when high on substances include confusion, delusions and hallucinations, psychosis, high blood pressure, panic, nausea and vomiting, and racing heartbeat.

While nicotine doesn’t yield these effects, regular consumption of this chemical can cause addiction without causing a high due to its associated effects. 

As the nicotine kick leaves your body, it can easily lead to nicotine withdrawal symptoms like irritability, anxiety, cravings, and feelings of depression. 

This then fuels a cycle of trying to avert withdrawal by puffing cigarettes continuously. Your body may also build up a tolerance to nicotine, which means you will always feel the need to smoke more to satisfy cravings for nicotine and achieve your desired nicotine kicks.

Over time, you might become dependent and addicted to nicotine, forcing you to smoke more cigarettes than usual. When you smoke continuously, it increases your risk of developing different illnesses like cancers, lung diseases, cardiovascular diseases, eye diseases, miscarriage, rheumatoid arthritis, and fertility issues. 

Is Tobacco a Gateway Drug?

Tobacco has been around for centuries, with communities all over the world using this plant in different ways. Some indigenous peoples in various countries have used this particular plant in rituals and ceremonies since they consider it a sacred plant.

Alternatively, some cultures maximized tobacco as an ingredient in medicines often used in treating coughs, respiratory issues, and wounds.

Today, tobacco is mainly known for being a key ingredient in producing cigarettes, cigars, snus, and chewing tobacco. These traditional tobacco products have been around for hundreds of years, giving adults their main source of nicotine while they either socialize or freshen up their mood. They also serve as a social lubricant as well as a cultural symbol.

Different brands of cigarettes are available in NativeSmokes4Less, each providing distinct flavours that cater to different taste profiles. Some brands of cigarettes we offer include BB Cigarettes, Rolled Gold Cigarettes, Canadian Goose, and Elite Cigarettes.

Tobacco use, nonetheless, has led to tons of deaths around the world. In fact, it has been the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death globally, affecting not only smokers but also non-smokers who’ve been exposed to secondhand smoke.

Regardless of their health risks, why do people still use tobacco products like cigarettes?

Simply put, tobacco contains nicotine, a highly addictive substance that can freshen up your mood whenever it enters your bloodstream. As the nicotine flows through your body, it commands your brain to release adrenaline, creating a satisfying buzz of energy and pleasure.

This buzz, however, fades quickly, causing you to feel tired or a little down. You may even get irritated, a known symptom of withdrawal.

To get the same buzz over and over again, you may feel the need to use tobacco products like cigarettes on a regular basis.

Given how frequently a smoker would turn to cigarettes for nicotine hits, many have questioned whether tobacco can be considered a gateway drug or not.

A gateway drug, by definition, is a habit-forming drug that can lead to the use of other addictive drugs. It is often known to be the cause of experimentation with harsher and more addictive substances. Since tobacco products are consumed repeatedly by adult users, many have considered them a gateway drug.

And as tobacco users become used to consuming nicotine, they may end up trying harmful or addictive drugs to know if other substances and chemicals can also provide them with a pleasurable or stimulating effect that tobacco products provide.

However, not all users of tobacco products may develop the urge to try addictive substances. Many stick to tobacco products for their much-needed nicotine hits, providing them with an adequate soothing and relaxing sensation.

So, is tobacco a gateway drug? For some, yes. Since some adults have already been introduced to nicotine through tobacco products, they might end up trying new products to compare their effects so they can settle with one that fits their needs.

A number of smokers, after all, may not be satisfied with the nicotine hits tobacco products provide to them, especially those who want strong, consistent hits of the substance on their bodies. As a result, they end up using mind-altering drugs and psychoactive substances. 

But most adult tobacco users and cigarette smokers out there don’t treat tobacco as a gateway drug. Many adult users of tobacco products end up depending only on nicotine. Issues with tobacco use, however, only come up once their nicotine dependence becomes severe.

During this time, they may be forced to address their nicotine dependence by subjecting themselves to smoking cessation tools and consulting medical professionals. Some of these tools include nicotine gums, nicotine lozenges, and nicotine patches. Can you smoke while wearing a nicotine patch? It’s strongly advised not to, as combining smoking with a nicotine patch can lead to dangerously high nicotine levels in the bloodstream, increasing the risk of side effects like nausea, dizziness, and even heart-related issues.

Nicotine pouches are also available if you want to consume nicotine without the risks associated with tobacco. These products are readily sold at NativeSmokes4Less.

If you will be quitting smoking, expect significant changes to your body after smoking your last cigarette. For instance, your heart rate will drop to a normal level within 20 minutes. By the end of the first day without any cigarette in your body, any excess carbon monoxide will be flushed out of your body. Your blood pressure will also return to a regular level when you quit smoking.

After a month of being smoke-free, you can then expect the number of nicotine receptors in the brain to return to normal. Any instances of coughing and shortness of breath may also decrease. 

Within 9 months, your lung function increases by 10%. Moreover, after a year of being smoke-free, your risk of heart attack and coronary heart disease is significantly reduced by half compared to that of an adult smoker.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you feel anything after smoking a cigarette?

After smoking a cigarette, you’ll instantly feel the lining of your nose and esophagus turn red. You might also experience irritation from the smoke and its chemicals. This can lead to coughing, dry mouth, bad breath, and other oral health issues. Within 20 minutes, nicotine will trigger your brain to release adrenaline, providing a satisfying buzz of energy and pleasure.

Why do I feel high when I smoke cigarettes?

You experience a sense of euphoria when smoking cigarettes because of the nicotine they release. Nicotine interacts with the receptors in the brain, which triggers the release of dopamine. This chemical then produces positive emotions, creating a similar feeling of being high.

Does smoking give you a high?

Smoking cigarettes can produce a similar sensation of being high because of the tobacco’s constituents. As these ingredients release nicotine, they trigger your brain to release dopamine, which generates positive emotions and feelings of pleasure. 

Does cigarette smoke make you high?

Technically, no. Cigarette smoke only releases nicotine, a chemical that triggers dopamine release in your brain. It’s not comparable to the euphoric or high often experienced with illegal drugs. Regardless, nicotine from cigarette smoke is somewhat enough to alleviate stress and promote relaxation without the distinct emotional and sensory changes drugs bring.

Summary

Cigarettes are traditional tobacco products that produce nicotine whenever you light them. This nicotine doesn’t give you the same high that one may feel when consuming psychoactive drugs or mind-altering substances, but it is enough to provide a relaxing sensation that can lighten up one’s mood and alleviate one’s stress and anxiety.

While cigarettes can provide a soothing sensation due to their nicotine content, smoking them regularly can increase your risk of developing lung cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses. Hence, it’s good if you gradually decrease the number of cigarettes you smoke until you completely stop smoking. Know what happens when you stop smoking through this blog.

Additionally, you must know the right tools in quitting smoking. A new way of regulating your nicotine intake and cigarette use is nicotine pouch. It is an oral nicotine product that takes advantage of a clean form of nicotine. Make sure to visit NativeSmokes4Less online store to find the best nicotine pouches you can find here in Canada.