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Tobacco itself is not a drug. Tobacco contains nicotine, which naturally occurs in the leaves of the tobacco plant, which is a potent central nervous system stimulant. Nicotine is responsible for the addictive properties of smoking and tobacco products.

The pharmaceutical industry is currently researching the use of nicotine-based drugs to treat a range of conditions, ranging from obesity, dementia type disorders and psychotic disorders, and also for general pain relief.

As for nicotine being responsible for the addictive properties of smoking, the long term success rate of NRT (as low as 1.6%, as admitted by the pharmaceutical companies themselves) would strongly suggest otherwise.

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13y ago

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