Actually I believe clinically, "addictiveness" is measured by what it takes to develop a dependence in the first place, rather that what it takes to get rid of that dependence or even the physical effects of an abrupt cessation. I heard somewhere (sorry no references) that by that measure, nicotine is one of if not the most addictive substance known.
I think your definitions are almost correct here. Addiction is actually defined as a medical condition ”characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli despite adverse consequences". So addiction is technically a mental thing and susceptibility to it depends not just on the drug, but on the person, mentality, self control, etc. When a lot of people talk about addiction they are actually thinking of dependence, susceptibility to which is only dependent on the drug and the amount of use. You can have one, or the other, or both.
I believe that while both nicotine and opiates can be addictive from first use, it takes a much longer prolonged use of nicotine to form a strong physical dependence (from personal experience, on the order of a few years of regular use), unlike opiates which can form a strong physical dependence after just a short time (as little as just a few weeks of regular use).
I think you need very large quantities of whatever is in tobacco that makes you addicted to have physical dependency on it. (Is it nicotine?)
I smoke a pipe on weekends. I have no physical craving for tobacco during the week and sometimes I just don't want to even on the weekends. The most amount of cigarettes I had throughout my life was probably equal to one pack and I never inhaled it because I don't feel like choking on smoke.
The worst effect I get with nicotine is dizziness but never any physical dependency or withdrawal from its absence in my body.
I just wish they did more studies on the effects of occasional use of tobacco, via pipes and cigars to see the effect of what occasional smoking does to someone.
I love nicotine despite the "factoid" about its' addictiveness I listed above, and I say that as a former smoker (sometimes up to a pack a day, for about 6 years). I'm actually at the point where I can smoke occssionally and not feel the need to keep smoking, although I would simply prefer to vape anyway, personally. I too would like to know more about the effect of occasional smoking.
