Nicotine is what makes smoking addictive for smokers: it is the chemical in the leaves of the tobacco plant that makes cigarettes so addictive. It is present in all cigars, smokeless tobacco (such as chewing or snuff), most electronic cigarettes, nicotine gum, nicotine patches, and nicotine lozenges.
Nicotine is a powerful addictive component of cigarettes. Nicotine-free substitutes, like nicotine pouches, can be less addictive than cigarettes, but they cannot replace them. The CDC has tweeted that nicotine pouches could harm the developing brain. Nevertheless, experts and the public are divided on whether nicotine-free alternatives are safe.