Tobacco

Tobacco has to be one of the most prominent addictive substances in the world today. While it is currently believed to be more addictive than marijuana because of its nicotine content, tobacco is still persistently tolerated in many levels of society. Considered in the past few hundred years as a sign of friendship and (to a certain extent) masculine camaraderie, smoking tobacco evolved into a recreational activity that many users claim to be a source of stress-relief and stimulation, a means to fit in, or a way to look really cool. The sad fact is that no matter how dangerous smoking tobacco is – in cigarettes, pipes and even the coveted cigar – it has become romanticized in such a way that even starting to smoke is not such a big deal anymore.

Tobacco or cigarette smoking is such a difficult habit to quit, and the process of getting out of it is made even more difficult by the tolerance exhibited by several countries with regards to tobacco use. Tobacco is, however, a highly addictive substance that poses more alarming health risks than other gateway drugs. It is known to not only cause major respiratory illnesses, but also circulatory problems, cancer and ulcers. Signs of tobacco abuse include frequency of smoking, inability to function without smoking, shirking meetings because of a no-smoking policy, and the inability to quit.