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Science�------------------Q�

How do patches

help smol<ers?

Quitting smoking is tough, but the nicotine
patch can wean people off dgarettes

ransdermal patches are in tobacco smoke. The drug is
non-invasive medicated sticking sandwiched in a reservoir between an
T plasters that are used daily to impermeable backing layer and an
dispense a steady dose of medication adhesive permeable membrane that
through the skin and into the sticks to the skin.
bloodstream. Nicotine is the addictive Although our skin is designed to keep
element of a cigarette that makes you chemicals out, the molecules of the drug
want to keep smoking. used in a patch are so tiny they can
While a cigarette delivers the nicotine permeate it. The drug is diffused from
that a smoker craves straight to their the reservoir to a drug-release
brain, this nicotine fix can be replaced membrane and adhesive membrane,
with a much lower dose that can be then from the adhesive membrane to the
released slower to reduce the cravings outer-most layer of skin. The drug is
associated with trying to give up taken up by the capillaries and takes
smoking, and without chemicals found effect on the brain. 0

The patch Backing layer Drug-release membrane
A small disc The impenetrable backing layer forms a This component controls the
measuring barrier, preventing the drug from leaking. rate at which nicotine passes
about 2.5cm through the membranes
in diameter. to the skin.

Microscopic nicotine Adhesive membrane
Nicotine is a liquid, which means it can penetrate the skin. The adhesive used must be medicated,
The amount of nicotine in the compound can be between pressure-sensitive, non-irritating, water­
5-50 per cent. The drug is stored in a reservoir between resistant and cohesive. It should be resilient
the backing and the membranes. enough that it doesn't degrade.

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