The Royal College of Physicians in Britain said that nicotine should be controlled like a drug or medicine because it's a powerful addictive substance like heroin and cocaine, Reuters reported Feb. 8.

"It is time for nicotine to become a major health priority in Britain," Sir George Alberti, the president of the group, said in a report prepared by international experts. "Recognition of this central role of nicotine addiction is important because it has major implications for the way that smoking is managed by doctors and other health professionals, and for the way in which harmful nicotine delivery products such as cigarettes should be regulated and controlled in society."

The report said that the way in which tar and nicotine are measured in cigarettes is misleading. The study called for a ban on brands described as "light" and "mild" unless they are proven to reduce health risk.

In addition, the report recommended that warning labels clearly state how addictive cigarettes are. The report further called for nicotine replacement therapy to be available through the government-funded National Health Service.

The report's findings were disputed by Britain's Tobacco Manufacturers' Association, which represents leading tobacco firms. The tobacco industry claims that the report overstated the danger of smoking.

"We do not believe that this product is as addictive as the report would suggest. Unlike hard drugs, people do give it up every day and people do not have to fund their habit by beating up old ladies," spokesman John Carlisle said.