> many associations with harm are confounded by past or present tobacco use [...] but when pure nicotine is examined [...] the harms appeared minimal: like all stimulants, nicotine may raise blood pressure somewhat, and is addictive to some degree, but the risks do not appear much more strikingly harmful than caffeine [...] There is little evidence from the NRT [nicotine replacement therapy] literature that ‘never-smokers’ like myself are all that likely to become highly addicted
(To be clear, I understand why the medical community would be hesitant to endorse this without it rising to the level of a "cover-up," but it seems like it's not as bad an idea as it intuitively sounds. But it's also unclear if the stimulant levels mentioned in that article are anywhere close to the levels relevant for covid.)
Tobacco addiction stems from psychoactive ”nicotine boosters” both preexisting in the tobacco plant as well as intentionally added to commercial cigarettes. Pure nicotine is not significantly habit-forming by itself. Just don’t combine it with coffee.
Desperation. Acetyl aldéhydes in tobacco are highly addictive. Nicotine supplements do not supply these, but folks manage to quit tobacco using them because they are motivated, and they are the best available alternative.
