An interview with a former smoker By Juhika Mehta We all are very well aware that smoking is injurious to heath, still leaving the habit of smoking is very difficult for many. No matter how dangerous it is, people still find an excuse to smoke. Few do it to look cool, few say they crave it as smoking makes them feel lighter and stress-free, and so on.. the excuses never end. People start it for fun, but end up being addicted to smoking. I was wondering what makes smoking addictive, and after researching about it I concluded that nicotine in the cigarette is the addictive substance. Every time a smoker smokes a cigarette, nicotine enters the bloodstream via the lungs and then reaches the brain rapidly and produces the feeling of pleasure and reduce anxiety. The brain gets addicted to the feeling of feeling good, hence becomes used to nicotine. The more you smoke, the more your brain produces a feeling of p