Having quit 3 times cold turkey before it finally took I can say that nicotine is definitely as addictive as any narcotic.
I have not smoked a cigarette for 27 years and can’t imagine ever wanting to again. But I’d be afraid to smoke even one because you can get hooked again in a week or two.
I’ve been smoking cigarettes for 50+ years... When you smoke daily you don’t notice that constant high... But go without... I Tried quitting a few times in the past and going a day or two without smoking, and then you smoke that first cigarette and you are immediately catching a nicotine buzz.