What makes it
addictive?
Nicotine, is an alkaloid produced and found in the leaves of the tobacco
plant. Nicotine, combined with the thousands of chemicals added by the
tobacco companies ingested (smoked, chewed, inhaled) or absorbed through the
skin, act on the central nervous system, change the metabolic rate, blood
pressure, and certain brain chemicals and hormones. This combination results
in the user feeling “relaxed” when (actually the metabolic rate has been
stimulated) and this pleasurable sensation adds to tobacco addiction.
Tolerance is built up very quickly. Your body then depends on Nicotine being
in your system, and more and more of it will be needed to create the
“pleasurable” sensation. Once the habit itself is formed, that increases the
addiction.
