Addiction Nicotine Use How to Quit Smoking Have You Become Addicted to Nicotine Gum? By Terry Martin Terry Martin Facebook Twitter Terry Martin quit smoking after 26 years and is now an advocate for those seeking freedom from nicotine addiction. Learn about our editorial process Updated on July 06, 2020 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Armeen Poor, MD Medically reviewed by Armeen Poor, MD Armeen Poor, MD, is a board-certified pulmonologist and intensivist. He specializes in pulmonary health, critical care, and sleep medicine. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Image Source/Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Effects NRT Recovery How to Quit Find Support On the surface, chewing a couple of pieces of nicotine gum every day is much better than smoking. Cigarette smoke contains over 7,000 chemical compounds; 250 of which are known to be poisonous, and upwards of 70 that have been identified as carcinogenic. We also know that inhaling secondhand smoke is hazardous, and for a smoker, it's a double whammy because we breathe in both mainstream and sidestream smoke. It puts us at risk for heart disease, COPD, and cancer for starters. Research is ongoing – we don't yet fully understand all of the dangers that cigarette smoke presents. Effects of Nicotine That said, while cigarette smoke is worse than nicotine alone, nicotine is not a harmless drug. Even when using nicotine replacement therapy to quit smoking, you should be aware of the potential risks that nicotine poses. Nicotine Is Harmful There is growing concern that long-term use of nicotine may contribute to cancer. Nicotine also affects how our bodies function — it puts stress on the heart and increases blood pressure. Nicotine harms the linings of our arteries which leads to the build-up of plaque, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Additionally, nicotine suppresses insulin output creating a hyperglycemic condition in smokers. Nicotine Is Addictive While it's true that the amount of nicotine you're getting daily from the gum may be small when compared to smoking, don't forget that nicotine is addictive. Regardless of how much or how little you're using, you're still feeding an active addiction. The message you're sending to yourself is that you can't live without nicotine—that you're not strong enough to give nicotine up completely. Should You Avoid Using NRTs? Even though nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) have the potential for addiction, they are an effective way to quit smoking. Always use caution, however, and follow your doctor's and the manufacturer's instructions. All forms of NRT except for the nicotine patch are easy to misuse because you take a dose multiple times a day. The patch is the only NRT that is applied once in the morning and offers time-released nicotine throughout the day. Talk to your doctor about your options and weigh the potential pros and cons of each option before you decide which one is right for your needs. Your doctor may recommend the patch on its own or a combination, such as a patch and a lozenge or gum as nicotine replacement therapy. Research suggests that an approach that combines passive nicotine delivery (e.g. a nicotine patch) with an as-needed NRT (e.g. a gum, inhaler, or nasal spray) improves quit rates by 34% to 54% over the patch alone. The patch provides a steady concentration of nicotine while gum, lozenges, and other single-dose NRTs can help with break-through cravings. NRTs have helped many thousands of smokers stop smoking successfully. Just remember that they are not intended for long-term use. Follow the manufacturer's directions exactly, and wean yourself off the NRT product of your choice in the time period suggested. Recovering From Nicotine Addiction Recovery from this addiction involves learning how to deal with life's ups and downs nicotine-free. If you remain dependent on nicotine, regardless of the form it comes in, you run an increased risk of a smoking relapse. Additionally, as is the case with habit-forming drugs, your tolerance for nicotine will increase over time and so will your intake. When the right (or wrong) situation presents itself, you may find it's a short jump to lighting up when a piece of nicotine gum isn't handy or just doesn't do the trick in taking the edge off. Stressful situations will continue to trigger the urge for nicotine until you clear it out of your system and learn new ways of coping. Don't let the unhelpful thinking that comes with nicotine withdrawal convince you to keep using. If you managed to stop smoking, you can go one step further and eliminate your dependence on therapeutic nicotine as well. How to Quit Nicotine Gum Work out a realistic plan to wean yourself off of nicotine gum. Some steps that you can take to reduce your dependence: If there are specific times of the day that you use the gum, e.g. first thing in the morning, after meals, etc, choose the one that is the easiest to let go. If you're chewing two or three pieces of nicotine gum per day, start by eliminating just one piece. Substitute a piece of sugar-free gum or a snack instead, and have a plan for a distracting activity should you need it. Once you are comfortable with the new regimen, repeat the process with the second piece of nicotine gum and then the third until you are off of it completely. It doesn't matter how much time (within reason) that you take between each elimination. Step down when you are feeling comfortable, always keep your goal in mind. Find Support for Nicotine Addiction Ask for support, and the load you're bearing will become much lighter. You'll be surprised at how understanding folks are. Don't feel ashamed. You are not the first person who has ever had this problem—far from it. You deserve a life that is free of nicotine addiction. Believe in yourself—you are strong enough to get nicotine out of your body and out of your life. If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. An Overview of Quitting Smoking 8 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. National Cancer Institute. Harms of Cigarette Smoking and Health Benefits of Quitting. Updated December 19, 2017. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health Effects of Secondhand Smoke. Updated January 17, 2018. Mishra A, Chaturvedi P, Datta S, Sinukumar S, Joshi P, Garg A. Harmful effects of nicotine. Indian J Med Paediatr Oncol. 2015;36(1):24-31. doi:10.4103/0971-5851.151771 American Heart Association. How Smoking and Nicotine Damage Your Body. Updated February 17, 2015. American Cancer Society. Nicotine Replacement Therapy for Quitting Tobacco. Updated January 12, 2017. MedlinePlus. Nicotine replacement therapy. Updated January 6, 2020. Wadgave U, Nagesh L. Nicotine replacement therapy: an overview. Int J Health Sci (Qassim). 2016;10(3):425-435. American Cancer Society. Why People Start Smoking and Why It’s Hard to Stop. Updated November 13, 2015. By Terry Martin Terry Martin quit smoking after 26 years and is now an advocate for those seeking freedom from nicotine addiction. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Get Treatment for Addiction Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.