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Why is Smoking and Chewing Tobacco Addictive

In the United States alone, more people stop using cocaine and heroin combined than those who successfully stop smoking and chewing tobacco in the long-term. There are several reasons for this: (1) smoking and chewing tobacco contains nicotine, possibly the most addictive substance known, (2) nicotine cessation causes extremely unpleasant and intense withdrawal symptoms that usually linger for three to seven days, and (3) cigarette smoking, cigar smoking, pipe tobacco and chewing tobacco have an extraordinarily strong psychological addiction. For all these reasons, using tobacco products develops nicotine addiction and withdrawal symptoms that cause a very high relapse rate. Yet this addiction can be forever conquered by a variety of smoking cessation programs and medical aids.Nicotine, the substance in tobacco that causes addiction and withdrawal symptoms, is derived from the leaves of the tobacco plant.

Tobacco products of all kinds have been used for centuries among Native Americans in ceremonial rituals. When tobacco smoking was introduced to European colonists in the American mainland, Central America and the islands of the Caribbean, tobacco became the major crop exported to all parts of Europe. Smoking tobacco was a custom among the British aristocracy of the 1600’s and 1700’s, being “in vogue.” Today, however, smoking cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco (once called “snuff”) is an unpopular habit because of what is now known about the additive nature of nicotine and the various types of cancer associated with nicotine addiction and other poisonous substances in tobacco.

The Truth about the Effects of Smoking and Chewing Tobacco

Far from being a pleasant past-time, smoking and chewing tobacco is now known to be potentially fatal. In the early 1900’s, Sigmund Freud, the “father” of psychiatry as a medical science, was never seen without smoking his cigar. Freud, of course, was unaware of nicotine’s addictive effects and potential to cause major health problems. Freud had several surgeries to remove most of his jaw, and eventually died from oral cancer caused by nicotine, tar, and other toxins contained in tobacco products.

Nicotine was once used prolifically as a weed killer in American and European agricultural communities. Because of nicotine’s powerful toxicity, it was sought after by farmers and is still contained in many weed killers under its chemical name, nicotiana. In the body, nicotine is a central nervous system stimulant that causes an increase in energy and the ability to focus and concentrate. Unfortunately, smoking tobacco also causes anxiety, irritability, hand tremors, insomnia, anorexia, vomiting, headaches, stomach pain, severe convulsions and even death when used in high doses. These potential deadly effects are exemplified by the 1997 case of a man who died after covering most of his body with nicotine patches to ward off nicotine withdrawal since he was attempting to stop smoking tobacco.

Nicotine withdrawal symptoms include cravings, irritability, sometimes violent anger, impaired concentration, increased appetite, decreased heart rate, severe headaches, and sleep disturbance. These physical symptoms are combined with psychological symptoms of depression and anxiety. Lasting sometimes up to ten days, some who smoke or chew tobacco find it easier to cope with the damaging effects of smoking cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products than with the very unpleasant effects of nicotine withdrawal. Denial of the health danger of smoking tobacco is simple; “It won’t happen to me” is a comforting thought to dismiss the danger until finally, it does happen.

In the U.S., smoking tobacco or using it in its many other forms has become very unpopular due to its devastating health effects as noted by the Surgeon General, the effects of second-hand smoke, and birth defects associated with smoking tobacco products during pregnancy. As a result, smoking tobacco products is heavily taxed by the federal government when purchased in supermarkets, convenience stores or drug stores. However, the government does allow untaxed tobacco products to be sold in “smoke shops” operated by Native Americans. These tobacco stores and shops are operated, for example, by the Cherokee Nation, the Flathead Nation, the Lakota Sioux Nation and other recognized and organized Native American tribes to generate revenue for the Nations. Ironically, the death rate by cancer and heart disease from smoking tobacco among Native Americans has reached an all-time high, no longer used only in ceremonial rites.

Since nicotine was extracted in a pure form in 1828, information about it addictive nature has lessened smoking tobacco to some degree, it remains at the top of the list of drugs, legal or illegal, that takes its death toll among tobacco smokers and chewers.