Nicotine, the active ingredient in tobacco, is as addictive as heroin, and fewer than 20 percent of smokers are able to quit the first time they try. Despite these facts, many children use these products. Young people who use cigarettes are also at great risk for all other drug use. Cigarettes contain more than 4,000 harmful substances, several of which cause cancer. 12 percent of boys and 1 percent of girls have chewed tobacco or used snuff.
Smokeless tobacco is just as addictive and harmful as tobacco that is smoked.
Because it is legal for adults and widely accepted in our culture, alcohol is the drug most often used in the United States. Alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. All four contain approximately 1.5 ounces of alcohol. The low price makes it easily affordable to young people. In addition, crack is thought to be one of the most addictive drugs.