Using any of the othercriteria, nicotine ranks much lower or at the bottom. Thus we can see that the very definition of addiction has been changed, notonly in order to apply the label to nicotine but to characterize it as oneof the most addictive drugs of all. But even the chart above suggests thatany craving is not physiological, but psychological. The pleasure of tobacco goes far beyond what nicotine does to the system. It's a way of life.
Nicotine plays a part, but a small one.
It can no more substitute for a smokethan No-Doz tablets could replace a good cup of coffee. That's why nicotinepatches and chewing gum aren't very effective when it comes to quitting. Of course it's hard to give up. So are many other things which are notphysiologically addicting. Your right arm, for example.