Nicotine is a stimulant alkaloid found naturally in tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum and Nicotiana rustica). It is one of the most widely used psychoactive substances globally and the primary addictive component in tobacco products.
The most common form of tobacco use worldwide. A typical cigarette contains 8-20 mg of nicotine, with approximately 1-2 mg absorbed per cigarette smoked. [1][2]
Large rolls of tobacco leaf that contain significantly more nicotine than cigarettes, depending on size and type. [1]
Tobacco designed for smoking in a pipe, typically with lower nicotine absorption rates than cigarettes due to smoking patterns. [1]
Loose leaf, plug, or twist tobacco placed in the mouth between the gum and cheek. Users absorb nicotine through the oral mucosa. [1]
Finely ground tobacco that is inhaled through the nose. [1]
A moist, smokeless tobacco product originating from Sweden, placed under the upper lip. Unlike other chewing tobacco, snus is pasteurized to reduce certain harmful chemicals. [3]
NRT products provide controlled doses of nicotine to help people quit smoking. They are regulated as over-the-counter or prescription medications.
| Product | Delivery Method | Available Strengths |
|---|---|---|
| Patches | Transdermal (16-24 hour release) | 21mg, 14mg, 7mg |
| Gum | Chewing (buccal absorption) | 2mg, 4mg |
| Lozenges | Dissolving (oral absorption) | 2mg, 4mg |
| Inhalers | Vapor (oral inhalation) | 10mg cartridges |
| Nasal spray | Nasal mist (fast absorption) | 10mg/ml |
[4][5]
Combining NRT products (such as using patches for baseline nicotine along with gum or lozenges for cravings) is more effective than using single products alone. [4][6]
[1] CDC - Smoking & Tobacco Use: Fact Sheet
[2] NIH - National Institute on Drug Abuse: Tobacco, Nicotine, and E-Cigarettes
[3] National Cancer Institute - Smokeless Tobacco and Cancer
[5] FDA - Nicotine Replacement Therapy Labels
[6] Cochrane Library - Nicotine Replacement Therapy for Smoking Cessation