Nicotine itself is an extremely harmful and addictive chemical. It has been compared to cocaine or heroin in its addictive power. Smokeless tobacco products such as snuff and chewing tobacco also contain many toxins as well as high levels of nicotine. Nicotine, recognized as one of the most frequently used addictive drugs, is a naturally occurring colorless liquid that turns brown when burned and acquires the odor of tobacco when exposed to air. Since nicotine was first identified in the early 1800s, it has been studied extensively and shown to have a number of complex and sometimes unpredictable effects on the brain and the body.
Cigarette smoking is the most prevalent form of nicotine addiction in the United States.
Through inhaling smoke, the average smoker takes in 1 to 2 mg nicotine per cigarette. There have been substantial increases in the sale and consumption of smokeless tobacco products also, and more recently, in cigar sales. It is this 'buzz' that indicates that nicotine is actively working in your brain, changing its chemistry and nature. Visit our cessation section to learn more about how to escape this hidden trap of tobacco use. Smoking is not about looking cool or having fun, it is about addiction to the drug nicotine.