|
|
 |
 |
|
Tobacco Addiction
Learn all about tobacco and how you become addicted.
|
| |
What's in a Cigarette?
The modern cigarette consists of much more than tobacco. Nicotine, a highly addictive drug found naturally in the tobacco plant, is manipulated with precision to enhance addiction, and hundreds of additives, ranging from sweeteners to ammonia, are blended in, usually with no prior government testing, disclosure or oversight. Although tobacco companies often claim that many of the additives they use are approved for human consumption, they fail to mention that burning changes the chemical properties of these additives, potentially making them toxic and/or pharmacologically active.
- Additives such as ammonia raise the pH levels in the smoke, creating high levels of "free nicotine" which can be absorbed by the body more quickly than "bound" nicotine.
- Flavorings and sweeteners are added to mask the harsh taste of tobacco smoke, making them more palatable to children and other first-time users. Some of these additives also mask the smell and visibility of secondhand smoke, further endangering non-smokers and undercutting arguments for clean indoor air laws.
- Menthol and other additives are used to numb the throat so the user does not feel the smoke's irritating effects.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
