http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.02/smoking.html

The above is an article about a genetically modified tobacco. The unique aspect of this tobacco is it does not contain nicotene.

Would smoking be worthwhile without the dose of nicotene?

so you assume that its the nicotine in the cigarette that people crave. Has nothing to do with the enjoyment of it filling your lungs or that some people like the taste and for most people they just like it.

If it was only the nicotine why do (some) people on the patch and gum (nicotine products) STILL SMOKE? After a while it is a HABIT as well as an addiction.

The nicotine 'is' the addictive ingredient in a cigarette. The gum and patch is just a ploy to get people money, because they don't work.

quote:

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Originally posted by honilov:
The nicotine 'is' the addictive ingredient in a cigarette. The gum and patch is just a ploy to get people money, because they don't work.

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i completely agree- but after years of smoking it is not just the nicotine you have to overcome it is the HABIT of doing it. Giving up the nicotine is as easy as giving up caffeine for me, the problem is the psycological (sp?) part of the smoking. I have smoked for years I buy a pack every 3rd day. So I guess I smoke anywhere from 5-7 cigerettes a day. The busier I make myself the less I smoke. I don't smoke in my house and for a long time I didn't smoke when my husband was around, so I smoked even less then. So see its not the nicotine for me- its more of the ritual of smoking after a meal or after a stressful situation. I wouldn't even noticed if they quit putting it in my smokes and didn't tell me because the mind thinks its there.

The same thing can be said about non-alcoholic beverages (ie near beer, virgin daquiri etc) give someone these who thinks that they are the real deal and after enough of them they will act drunk.

Yes but, that doesn't take away the tobacco. Isn't the tobacco the thing that dangers people anyway?

Well it sounds good in theory:
Wean people off of the physical addiction, and hope they continue to fight the psychological addiction.

But will they?

Or how many will say "Well I've cut out the nicotine - why go any further?"
(Even though the cigarettes still contain the major carcinogens.)

And so the battle continues...

I have to dissagree with you Honilov.
The patches may not work for everyone but they did for me.
I tried to quit 4 times in three years and kept starting back up. Finally, I went out and bought the patch. When using it, I wasn't as moody as I was without it. It took about 4 weeks from start to finish. It was expensive but I have been smoke free for about a year and a half now.
Like I said, it may not work for everyone but it did for me.

Twinhearts

Twinhearts, the patch didn't work for my husband, so it was a waste of money for him. He probably smokes a lot more than you did. He smokes about 2 and 1/2 pks a day. The second hand smoke is really bothering me. I really wish he could quit. I'm so glad to hear that it worked for you.

Simply, me: yes, tobacco is a poison, most assuredly.

Some people crave the nicotine, some the cigarette itself. Personally, I liked to smoke and even now, occasionally, I would like to have a cigarette. It's not like I have a panic attack or a seizure or am desperately craving one, I don't even really want one, it's just that every so often it would be really nice to relax with a cigarette and a good book.