U.S. Surgeon GeneralVerified account

Lots of good comments/ questions on this tweet- so let’s discuss. “Addiction” is dependent on the person, the environment, the substance/delivery &other factors. Most experts feel it includes varying degrees of dependence, intoxication, tolerance, withdrawal, and reinforcement.

Many folks focus on “harm” as a defining component of addiction, but addiction in not only about harm. Here is @ASAMorg definition. https://www.asam.org/resources/definition-of-addiction …

When people speak of the addictive properties of nicotine, much of the focus is on dependence- and a large number of addiction experts feel and consistently state nicotine is one of if not the most dependence creating substance.

People also question the relative harm of nicotine to other substances. I don’t think it’s a good idea to compare harm. Someone’s loved on dying of smoking or their kid unable to focus in school because of e cig dependence, or their loved one overdosing are all “harm” to someone.