UK tobacco harm reduction expert Clive Bates has likened the cognitive effects of nicotine to those of caffeine, highlighting its role in boosting focus and regulating mood. Speaking on the substance’s properties, Bates noted that nicotine stimulates dopamine release in the brain, providing cognitive enhancement and relaxation.
“Nicotine is a legal substance widely used because it provides brain stimulation, mood regulation, and cognitive enhancement,” Bates said. He explained that nicotine as an isolated substance is not the primary driver of smoking-related illnesses. Instead, public health strategies should focus on providing legal, lower-risk alternatives for adult smokers who wish to continue using nicotine.
Supporting this view, Paido Siahaan, Chairman of the Indonesian Vape Consumer Association (AKVINDO), urged the public to distinguish between nicotine and the toxic byproducts of tobacco combustion. Siahaan explained that burning tobacco produces tar, carbon monoxide, and various toxins, which are the actual causes of smoking-related diseases.
Non-combustible alternatives—such as heated tobacco products, e-cigarettes, and nicotine pouches—allow users to access nicotine without these combustion-related risks. However, Siahaan cautioned that these alternatives are not entirely risk-free due to nicotine’s addictive nature, emphasizing they are strictly for adult smokers, not youth or non-smokers.
Adult consumers report practical benefits from making the switch. Achmad Maulana, a heated tobacco user of two years, noted that the transition helped him maintain focus during stressful work periods while eliminating the lingering smoke odor associated with conventional cigarettes.
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