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Nicotine Level in Cigarettes

Millions of Americans suffer health problems because of smoking, according to the National Cancer Institute. Furthermore, cigarette smoking and exposure to tobacco causes an estimated 438,000 deaths each year in the U.S. The nicotine content makes cigarettes so addictive.

  1. Expert Insight

    • Cigarettes vary in their nicotine content, but the National Cancer Institute reports that in one cigarette, which contains less than one gram of tobacco, levels can vary between 13.7 and 23.2 mg of nicotine per gram of dry tobacco.

    Effects

    • Smokers absorb nicotine through the lining of the mouth and in the lungs. Taking frequent, deep inhalations will increase the amount of nicotine absorbed. Nicotine addiction is similar to the addiction produced by the use of cocaine or heroin.

    Considerations

    • According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, smoking accounts for one-third of all cancers. Smoking also causes various lung diseases and increases the risk of heart disease. Furthermore, adult smokers will die around 14 years earlier than non-smokers.

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