Why does drinking make you want to smoke

And the strangest part of all this is that you don't smoke. Or rarely. In fact, you can go weeks without smoking. But then you mix in some alcohol, and all your nicotine circuits come online.

So what's going on? Why is your brain doing this? According to Dr. John Dani, a neuroscientist and expert on the mechanisms of addiction from the University of Pennsylvania, the urge to smoke is two-pronged. The first part results from the way nicotine affects memory, but the other is in how nicotine combines with alcohol to reduce dopamine levels.

Together the two mechanisms make cigarettes seem delicious. Let's break that down a little more. Firstly, with the effects on memory. In , Dr. Dani's team published a study examining how nicotine supercharges the formation of memory pathways. But if you combine careful planning with an evidence-based quitting method such as Quit Genius, you will benefit from the results, in as little as a few hours!

To keep you motivated, you can also keep track of your gains in real time with the Quit Genius app. Cutting out alcohol altogether might be a bit too extreme for most people. If you think it might be the latter, you could be being influenced by peer pressure, or simply be running in autopilot mode.

If this is the case, you need to try to break the association between socialising and smoking. You could try ordering a different drink to your usual, or sitting in a different spot. You might be a bit sceptical about what sort of effect this could really have, but changing your routine is often all it takes to put you back in control of your actions. You should also try to find ways to remind yourself of your goals, and your reasons for adopting a smoke-free lifestyle.

What you can do though is to have a plan in place for when difficult situations do arise. Terms Privacy Policy. Part of HuffPost Lifestyle. All rights reserved. Research has found that alcohol and nicotine use are closely related.

People who have a dependence on one substance commonly have a dependence on the other. If you are struggling with how much you drink, talk to your doctor.

There are resources available to assess your drinking level and take action steps to reduce your drinking. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. Remember, it takes a lot of people more than one attempt to quit smoking before they're able to quit for good.

If you smoke a cigarette when you're out drinking, don't let it stop you from continuing on your journey to stay smoke-free. With these tips in mind, you'll be more prepared for next time to let the craving pass without smoking a cigarette. So you're ready to finally quit smoking? Our free guide can help you get on the right track. Sign up and get yours today.

National Institutes of Health. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Quitting smoking with complementary health approaches: What you need to know. Updated January Adams S. Psychopharmacology of tobacco and alcohol comorbidity: A review of current evidence. Curr Addict Rep. Know your triggers. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Drinking levels defined. American Cancer Society. Help for cravings and tough situations while you're quitting tobacco.

Updated October 10, Nicotine administration in the wake-promoting basal forebrain attenuates sleep-promoting effects of alcohol. J Neurochem.