Nicotine Addiction Could Lead to Greater Cocaine Reaction

The oft-derided notion of a "gateway drug" could have some truth to it, as nicotine was found to alter the brain chemistry of mice.

New research (on mice) suggests that nicotine might have the effect of priming brains (of mice) to get a greater kick out of cocaine. Researchers at Columbia University found that when mice were given nicotine, genes in their brains were basically reprogrammed to get a more intense rush once they were exposed to cocaine, leading the scientists to posit that cigarettes could very well be a "gateway drug." Via Nature:

To investigate, the researchers plied mice with nicotine, followed seven days later by cocaine. What they found was striking. Compared with mice on cocaine who had not previously received nicotine, the animals were 98% more active and 78% more likely to return to areas previously associated with the cocaine.

The reason for that appears to be nicotine's effect on chromatin, or the combination of DNA and proteins that make up a cell's nucleus. Nicotine "loosens" up the chromatin, making cells more susceptible to FosB, a protein whose levels shoot up when people do cocaine. Hence, in mice at least, nicotine primes cells to get a greater high off of blow. While this effect on the brain has yet to be seen to be caused by either alcohol or marijuana, the researchers think a greater understanding of drugs' effects on the brain's molecular make-up could lead to better addiction treatments. And if not, at least you know how to get the most out of your coke.