Nicotine is very addictive, 35 million people each year try to quit, but only 6% are successful. The other percent that stays smoking is likely facing an addiction to nicotine.

Nicotine has various effects on the brain. One reason as to why many cannot stop smoking is because nicotine unlocks reward pathways, which regulates pleasure in the brain. Nicotine increases the levels of dopamine, which is a key main chemical in the brain, nicotine increases the amounts of dopamine in the reward pathways, making it harder to stop.

Nicotine also produces withdrawal symptoms. This is a key in determining if it is addictive, and these symptoms prove that. Irritability, craving, cognitive and attentional deficits, sleep disturbances, and increased appetite are all withdrawal symptoms that someone who is addicted may face.

Nicotine is absorbed at a fast rate. This can be from both chewing and smoking. Some can be exposed to nicotine for 24 hours or more if addicted. Smoking and chewing tobacco can have lasting effects on a person's health.

For many it is hard to stop but it can be broken, the cycle does not have to continue. (NRTs) are used in smoking cessation therapy. This includes nicotine gum and a transdermal nicotine patch, these are both FDA approved. These help break withdrawal symptoms. These help a person to have lower levels of nicotine.

Once you've started it's too late to quit, the damage has been done. This is not true. It is correct, that taking in nicotine can negatively affect your body, but that does not mean it's too late. The effects of it reduce rapidly after quitting at any age. It is never too late, with therapies and treatments, getting back on the path to better heath will come.

Smoking a few times a day is harmless. This is not true. Smoking even 3 to 4 cigarettes a day can having lasting causes. With someone who does this having 3 times the risk of dying to a heart attack and 3-5 times the risk of dying to lung cancer.

Smoking helps to relieve stress. This is wrong. Because dopamine levels are increased in the reward pathways, many would feel stress relieves them for the time that they are smoking, but once that goes away what's left? Stress. Smoking in general brings about increased stress levels. This stress can come from withdrawal from it, and if you think about it, many are stressed without it, this is due to the dependence that they have on it, and every time the pleasure of smoking goes away one will feel stress, overall it's a stress enhancer.

The major toxic ingredient in cigarettes is nicotine. This is wrong. Nicotine is very addictive but there are a lot more substances within the cigarettes that cause problems for your health. Nicotine plays a part in it all but it's really thanks to the other 7,000 toxins that are present within the cigarette.

Cutting down the number of cigarettes or smoking more light cigarettes reduces harm caused. This is wrong. Similar to smoking just a few times a day cutting down the number of cigarettes or even smoking more light cigarettes are not better alternatives. Harm will still be caused.