what is the addictive chemical in cigarettes

Nicotine is the highly addictive chemical compound present in tobacco plants and is present in all tobacco products, including cigarettes. While nicotine is what addicts and keeps people using tobacco products, it is not what makes tobacco use so deadly. Tobacco and tobacco smoke contain thousands of chemicals, and this toxic mix of chemicals—not nicotine—is what causes serious disease and death in tobacco users. Some tobacco products, like cigarettes, are designed to deliver nicotine to the brain within seconds, making it easier to become dependent on nicotine and more difficult to quit. While some chemicals are added to cigarettes during the manufacturing process, some chemicals in cigarettes, along with nicotine, are found in the tobacco plant itself. As the tobacco plant grows, it absorbs chemicals like cadmium, lead, and nitrates from the soil and fertilizer.