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Nicotine is a drug that produces many different effects on the body at the same time. It stimulates your nervous system, even though it makes you feel relaxed. Nicotine affects the chemicals in your brain and after a puff, you usually feel good for a moment or two.

New smokers often feel dizzy and sick from tobacco smoke, but you get used to its effects. As you continue to smoke, your body learns to depend on nicotine and you can smoke more and more.

When smokers stop, most get cravings. You may feel anxious, hungry and irritable, and find it hard to focus on what you are doing. Even after giving up smoking for long periods of time, some smokers who try to just have an occasional cigarette return to regular smoking.

Surprising as it sounds, research shows that for many smokers their addiction to nicotine is similar to addiction to heroin or cocaine. For example, research shows that some smokers cannot bring themselves to quit even though they may think smoking is harmful - they don't believe that they will be affected.

Take the Nicotine Addiction Test to measure your addiction to nicotine. Note this test is a guide only. Smoking is a complex addiction, consider your smoking habit and why you smoke so you are well prepared to quit smoking. For further information consult your doctor or health professional.

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