If nicotine was taken orally as a hot drink like coffee rather than smoking, would it be as compelling to its users?
from cheese_greater@lemmy.world to nostupidquestions@lemmy.ca on 29 Mar 2026 07:18
https://lemmy.world/post/44892080

#nostupidquestions

threaded - newest

porous_grey_matter@lemmy.ml on 29 Mar 2026 07:30 next collapse

Snus is still quite addictive so probably. For any given drug, faster routes of administration (smoking/vaping, injection) are more addictive than slower ones (oral, sublingual, intranasal), but ultimately they still are, and users may also seek higher doses to compensate for the slower absorption.

cheese_greater@lemmy.world on 07 Apr 2026 21:16 collapse

To be fair thats absorbing thru your gums/some kind of mucosal membrane, not sure if that happens anywhere near the same degree if you’re just downing it without letting it hang around too long but I get your point

Melobol@lemmy.ml on 29 Mar 2026 07:51 next collapse

If you are talking about regular cigarettes and freebase nicotine vapes - then in that case nicotine is only half of the battle.
If you are thinking about the salt nic 30/50mg then nicotine addiction will play a bigger role.

But aside that smoking/vaping is an oral fixation and a “fidget” outlet with a strong social aspect.

Hand to mouth motion is really addictive. Ask any babies you know.

Social aspect of smoking is also insanely important, a lot of deals and friendships born because of smoke break chatter.

I don’t believe a drink could replace all of that. And why drink nicotine if most of the people drink alcohol for the opposite effect. This is why nicotine patches not a solve it all solution.

blimthepixie@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 29 Mar 2026 08:16 collapse

Harder to blow smoke rings