What is in Tobacco that Makes it Addicting?

Nicotine is responsible for people becoming addicted to tobacco products. Nicotine is a drug that is naturally found in tobacco. When someone uses tobacco products, nicotine produces "pleasurable" feelings. Nicotine affects the chemistry of the brain. This affects the mood of the user. Users of tobacco crave this feeling, and want to smoke more.

Addiction may cause a user's body to physically want nicotine. Not having a cigarette may cause an addicted user to experience loss of energy, feelings of nervousness, headache, hunger, and changes in heart rate. Users may also crave the mental feeling they get when they use tobacco. Many users may notice a loss of alertness, memory, and concentration when they have withdrawn from nicotine. Lack of nicotine may also cause mood swings and depression for the user. For this reason, users of tobacco become dependent on the drug nicotine.