Ron Alexander

In 1994, I quit using drugs and began my recovery journey. I stopped using all mood-altering substances except for ni****ne.

We generally do not consider ni****ne to be a drug when, in fact, ni****ne is a stimulant that speeds messages traveling between the brain and body.

Ni****ne is a dangerous and highly addictive chemical. It causes an increase in blood pressure, heart rate, the flow of blood to the heart, and the narrowing of the arteries that carry blood.
Ni****ne also contributes to the hardening of the arterial walls, which in turn may lead to heart attack.

Ni****ne, tobacco's primary active compound, lowers the perception of pain and physical stress by reducing the amount of the neurotransmitter dopamine broken down by neurons in the prefrontal cortex, a region of the brain behind the forehead.
And so ni****ne affects the brain in similar ways similar to using he**in, co***ne, and ma*****na.

But ni****ne is far more dangerous than other drugs because ni****ne is legal.

I’ve kicked co***ne, and yet I’ve been unable to kick ni****ne. The effects of ni****ne have proven to be far more difficult to quit than co***ne.

The big picture and question is, can I truly call myself clean and drug-free when I am persistently smoking ci******es or va**ng?
I have known people who have stopped using drugs and alcohol, only to die from lung cancer.

The classic definition of being an addict is continuing to use substances despite consequences.

I smoke ci******es and v**e because ni****ne calms my anxieties and nerves. I smoke despite the consequences.

Please help me out.

Am I still an addict because I can’t stop smoking ci******es?