Why Cigarettes Are So Addictive

It's widely understood that nicotine is one of the most addictive substances ever known to civilization. Unbelievably, there were many years when Big Tobacco denied this view. Now, however, it's been so well-established by the scientific and medical community that it's just no longer possible to deny this fundamental truth.

Many scientists argue that nicotine is as addictive as heroin and cocaine. Speaking from my own experience, I can say it's more addictive. Some even say that it's easier for an alcoholic to relinquish his bottle than it is for a smoker to toss his pack. My experience confirms this also. I am an alcoholic and drug addict, and, I've put the gin and needles down a number of years ago; but, I still actively struggle terribly in maintaining my cigarette quit.

Cigarette tobacco, as a means for delivering nicotine, would be powerfully addictive even if no further processing occurred. However, many large tobacco companies have gone to considerable lengths to increase their product's addictive qualities. Thus, fewer smokers will succeed in becoming former smokers; and, the effectiveness of anti-smoking products is also decreased.

One method for jacking-up the nicotine pop is to add sugars to the tobacco. Big Tobacco rationalizes this process by claiming it enhances flavor. However, Victor DeNoble (once a tobacco industry scientist) argues that the product of burning sugar----acetaldehyde----may make tobacco more addictive. Mr. DeNoble performed experiments with rats and provided proof that acetaldehyde was addictive.

The research demonstratively showed that a cigarette compound besides nicotine could lead to addiction. In addition, Phillip Morris' experiments showed the addictive properties of acetaldehyde to compliment nicotine's: when the compounds are combined their effect is multiplied. This is why many argue that nicotine replacement methods often don't succeed:because, although they replace the nicotine, the acetaldehyde is not addressed.

William Farone, also a former tobacco industry scientist, indicated that the tobacco industry may be attempting other methods to enhance nicotine's addictive properties via other synergistic additives. Mr. Farone refers to GRAS----an acronym for “generally regarded as safe”----to describe other compounds used to further increase the tendency for smoker addiction.

The GRAS compounds include cocoa and chocolate, which, produce theobromine when burned. Theobromine aids cigarette smoke inhalation, allowing the nicotine to reach the deepest areas of the lungs, while simultaneously muting the smoke's bite.

At least equally disturbing is ammonia technology. By adding ammonia, cigarette smoke's pH is transformed, turning the nicotine particles into a vapor freebase. This vapor nicotine is more readily received into the smoker's brain and bloodstream. The nicotine's speed in the body is increased through this compromise of the blood-brain barrier.

Jeffrey Wigand----known as a Big Tobacco whistle-blower----said that American cigarettes contain at least 600 chemical additives. Although such additives are thought harmless in food and cosmetics; they mostly have not been examined and analyzed while burned and inhaled.

For those who think of our modern cigarettes as simply some pure tobacco that's rolled-up in paper, it's time to reconsider. It's far more honest to see our cigarettes as a highly-contemplated, deadly product which took many years and considerable brain power to perfect. And, it's perfection leads to more deaths.