Cocaine produces tremendous euphoria, whereas nicotine produces mild euphoria. People who experience dependence have a brain disease. Addiction is a will-power problem. This is an old belief, probably based upon wanting to blame addicts for using drugs to excess. Addicts should be punished, not treated, for using drugs.
Research is less important than treatment.
Throughout history, medical diseases have always been treated before scientists learned the causes of the diseases. Alcoholics can stop drinking simply by attending A.A. meetings. For most people, A.A. is a gut-wrenching, lifelong working of the twelve steps. Drugs cause addiction. Scientists are looking into the genetic and other unknown factors that cause some people to become dependent while sparing others of this brain pathology.