Nicotine is a powerfully addictive drug. Once your teen is addicted, it will be very difficult to quit . The cause of addiction is simple. Nicotine goes straight to the brain. The human brain has circuits that control feelings of pleasure.
Nicotine spikes an increase in dopamine.
When your teen smokes, he or she inhales the nicotine. It goes quickly to the brain. In just 10 seconds, the pleasurable effects of smoking reach peak levels. Within a few minutes, the pleasure is gone, and the craving for a cigarette begins a new cycle. A teen can easily get hooked on nicotine, although it takes much more effort to quit.