[jjsheridan5]

They contain nicotine and are therefore addictive

The overwhelming anecdotal evidence is that this is not true. There have been no clinical studies which have ever been taken to establish this. The few clinical studies involving people who never smoked being given nicotine in a manner other than via tobacco, all showed zero side effects of cessation, with no evidence of any addictiveness at all (despite nicotine being as addictive as heroin /s). These studies (6, I believe) were done, by the way, to study therapeutic effects of nicotine, and involved elevating nicotine levels to levels commensurate with a smoker, for months at a time. And no withdrawal, no cravings, and none of the subjects became smokers or continued nicotine use in any way.

Cigarette addiction is much more complex than we have been led to believe. Nicotine plays a role in that addiction, but nicotine, in and of itself, is at most mildly addictive, and probably not addictive at all.

[DannyTN]

FDA Fact sheet

Second Hand Smoke Exposure

[zeugma]

Cigarette addiction is much more complex than we have been led to believe. Nicotine plays a role in that addiction, but nicotine, in and of itself, is at most mildly addictive, and probably not addictive at all.

Facts are not going to help you at all in this discussion.

[Idaho_Cowboy]

Don't liberals tell us white sugar and chocolate chip cookies are more addictive than cocaine?

If we outlaw everything they used the word addictive on, it be a pretty hard life. Obama even said we were addicted to oil at one point.

[Mase]

Nicotine plays a role in that addiction, but nicotine, in and of itself, is at most mildly addictive, and probably not addictive at all.

I think you've been reading too many e-cig forums. Nicotine is highly addictive. This fact is well established science. Tobacco smoking is also highly addictive because smokers become addicted to their smoking behaviors and rituals. There are other addiction promoting substances in cigarettes besides nicotine, that is true, but nicotine is the main culprit. Smoking can be a bio-behavioral addiction.

Nicotine easily circulates throughout the blood and into the brain. It reaches the brain just seconds after inhaling, and only a few cigarettes can create symptoms of dependence. Many studies have shown nicotine to be more addicting than alcohol and cocaine. Not everyone becomes addicted however, and there are people who are able to quit cold turkey without any problem. But that only applies to a small percentage of people. Your post is wishful thinking, but you can find just about anything you want to find on the internet.

[Marie]

You just let out the dirty little secret that other smokers and myself have been discussing for years. Nic gum doesn’t help our cravings. The e-cig can reduce smoking, but you’ll still need a cig every once in awhile. Patches may as well be garbage.

There are other things in tobacco than nic that pull us to the plant. Nic is the ‘easy out’, but not the culprit.