Why Smoking Is So Addictive

Many new mothers find themselves having a hard time giving up the smoking habit even if they successfully abstained during their entire pregnancy. This addiction is somewhat mysterious to society and scientists alike. Nicotine, the active ingredient in cigarettes and other tobacco products, was once billed as being every bit as addictive as dangerous street drugs such as crack and meth. However, given that most individuals eventually quit smoking and, among those who do by using a replacement therapy such as gum or patches, few of them stay on those replacements for very long, there is likely more to this than a simple drug addiction.

There are those scientists who have begun to describe nicotine as moderately addictive, not a guaranteed monkey on one's back. When one considers the matter, nicotine really doesn't do much as far as producing a "high" goes. In fact, most smokers are motivated to have a cigarette only to reduce their withdrawals between one and the next; they're not seeking intoxication. So, what makes this so addictive? There are some scientists who theorize that there are so many addictive aspects to this habit that it's no wonder that it's hard to give it up for good.

Consider the color and design of the pack; the sound of the plastic crinkling as one opens a fresh pack of cigarettes and the first whiff of tobacco when the tinfoil is removed. Consider the ritual of using a lighter, the smell of freshly burning tobacco and the sensation of the smoke as it goes down the throat. Smoking's elaborate ritual is one of the most addictive things imaginable. Getting rid of this habit is something that requires a comprehensive effort and, oftentimes, giving up the habit means starting by not reacquiring a taste for the rituals involved.