Junk Medicine "Delivers a shot of the medicine you need." That line is from a Nicorette nicotine gum advertisement I heard on the radio a couple of days ago. Medicine? You mean nicotine? One of the most addictive substances known to man? You meant THAT "medicine"? In the e-Alert "Patching Up" (9/28/02), I told you about research that shows nicotine can sometimes relieve the symptoms of central nervous system (CNS) diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and multiple sclerosis. So for someone with a CNS disease, nicotine could conceivably be considered a medication. But for someone trying to quit smoking? Calling nicotine a "medicine" is like saying just a teensy bit of heroin is medicine for someone trying to quit a heroin addiction. There's "junk" medicine for you, in the truest sense. To Your Good Health, Jenny Thompson
Health Sciences Institute | 
