What makes smoking so addictive? How addictive is smoking?
What makes smoking so addictive? Is it a physical or psychological addiction? Smoking attracts and holds its devotees by three methods, and it is up to each individual smoker to determine how much each component of addiction affects him or her. Examining this mechanism of addiction not only will help the smoker understand why he or she smokes but will be of assistance once the decision is made to quit. Nicotine is the physically addictive part of cigarette smoke. The potent effects of nicotine go far beyond those of most other legal substances. Nicotine reaches the brain just seconds after it is inhaled and releases chemicals that bring on the sensation of pleasure and a feeling of alertness. Smokers must have a steady supply of nicotine circulating in their blood and going to the brain. Without enough nicotine these sensations begin to diminish, and smokers quickly begin to feel the unpleasant effects of withdrawal, such as headaches, nausea, muscle pain, and insomnia. This...