I smoke because I like smoking. No you don't. Ask any smoker why he or she continues such a dangerous activity and they will normally say, "I like smoking and I can't or I don't want to quit right now." While they might believe that what they're saying is true, in fact it's a completely misleading statement. A smoker does not smoke because he or she enjoys smoking as an activity, rather they smoke habitually and they do it because they hooked on the most addictive drug: nicotine. Moreover, smoking is THE activity that delivers enough nicotine to avoid the withdrawal pangs.

Nicotine is a powerfully addictive drug. Every smoker is in a constant battle to maintain the right amount of nicotine in their blood stream (serum nicotine level) in order to avoid withdrawal. Each time the serum nicotine level decreases below the minimum limit, the smokers will experience drug withdrawal. (The exact same thing happens with a heroine or cocaine addict when the level of cocaine decreases to minimum). In withdrawal, smokers becomes tense, nervous, irritable, anxious, depressed and in very often they show physical symptoms. Apparently, a cigarette will help alleviate these acute symptoms and often times a smoker will light up.

However, when the nicotine upper limit of tolerance is reached, the smoker is very likely to experience nicotine poisoning or nicotine intoxication symptoms. (special care is vital in these situations). Nicotine poisoning rarely leads to death (roughly 60 mg on absorbed nicotine is needed to kill a human being. Some of the symptoms of nicotine poisoning are: overall weakness, feeling sick, nauseous, dizzy, not being able to concentrate, loss of memory and generally miserable.

All smokers must be well aware of their level of tolerance to nicotine. Hence, if you're usually smoking 10 cigarettes during a 12-hour period, avoid doubling that amount or you'll be likely to experience nicotine poisoning. The smoker must know how to constantly maintain the right balance between the extremes of too much or too little nicotine in their system. The fear which accompanies initial smoking cessation is that the rest of the ex-smoker's entire life will be as horrible as the first few days of the withdrawal. What ex-smokers will learn is that within a short period of time, the physical withdrawal will start to diminish. First, the urges will weaken in intensity and then become shorter in duration. There will be longer time intervals between urges. It will eventually reach the point where the ex-smoker will desire a cigarette very infrequently, if ever. Those who continue to smoke will continue to be in a constant battle of maintaining their serum nicotine level.

Included in this battle is the great expense of buying pack after pack and the dangerous assault on the smoker's body of inhaling the poison nicotine along with over 4,000 other toxic chemicals which comprise the tars and gasses produced from the combustion of tobacco. These chemicals are deadly by themselves and even more so in combination.

So the next time you think of how much you once seemed to enjoy cigarettes, sit back and take a serious, objective look at why you have such an idealization of this dangerous product. Always consider all the consequences. You will probably soon realize that you feel physically and mentally better now than you ever did as a smoker.