{
  "id": 9222979,
  "title": "How the pro‑nicotine 'wellness' movement rebranded an addictive drug",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/how-the-pro-nicotine-wellness-movement-rebranded-an-addictive-drug",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-23T00:00:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-09-pronicotine-wellness-movement-rebranded-addictive.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The pro-nicotine wellness movement has begun to rebrand nicotine, once an addictive substance linked to tobacco, as a natural wellness and performance-enhancing compound. Across social media, podcasts and wellness communities, influencers are portraying nicotine in a new light, touting its potential benefits ranging from improved focus to protection against cognitive decline. This trend involves using nicotine in noncombustible products like pouches, or combining it with caffeine and nootropics to enhance cognition. However, experts caution against these claims, emphasizing that nicotine's health risks far outweigh any potential benefits. Nicotine is a primary driver of tobacco addiction, and its combustion generates numerous toxic substances like carcinogens and carbon monoxide, leading to serious smoking-related illnesses. Beyond these, nicotine directly impacts brain function, activating the sympathetic nervous system and altering neurotransmitter release, which can increase heart rate, blood pressure, and disrupt sleep. Regular exposure can lead to dependence through nicotine's effect on brain reward pathways. While some studies suggest temporary enhancements in attention and vigilance, the evidence is inconsistent and often involves regular nicotine users, whose cognitive performance may improve merely due to withdrawal. The wellness movement also promotes nicotine as a stress reliever and mood booster, but long-term use can disrupt the body's stress-response system, potentially worsening anxiety and depression. In summary, despite claims of cognitive enhancement and stress management, there is little solid evidence that nicotine meaningfully improves academic performance, intelligence, creativity, or workplace productivity.",
  "summary": "An ironic development emerging alongside the \"Make America Healthy Again\" movement is the portrayal of nicotine as a wellness and performance-enhancing product. Across social media, podcasts, wellness communities and tech startups, prominent wellness personalities and other influencers are portraying nicotine as a misunderstood compound whose potential benefits have been overshadowed by its…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Conversation",
        "title": "How the pro-nicotine ‘wellness’ movement rebranded an addictive drug",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/how-the-pro-nicotine-wellness-movement-rebranded-an-addictive-drug",
        "published": "2026-09-22T12:47:48.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}