The U.S. Surgeon General reports the following criteria for nicotine addiction (USDHHS, 1994):

Primary Criteria

• Highly controlled or compulsive use
  
• Psychoactive effects
  • mood-altering effects
    
• Drug-reinforced behavior
  • the drug itself has the demonstrated capability of reinforcing behavior
    

Additional Criteria

Addictive behavior often involves the following:

• Stereotypic patterns of use
  
• Use despite harmful effects
  
• Relapse following abstinence
  
• Recurrent drug cravings
  

Dependence-producing drugs often manifest the following:

Tolerance

Develops when increased dose levels are required to obtain the effects formerly produced by lower doses.

Physical dependence

Develops usually after several weeks of nicotine exposure; the dependent person appears to be functioning normally when under the influence of nicotine. Conversely, the person may report feeling "abnormal" or "not right" when deprived for more than a few hours.

Pleasant effects

Nicotine relaxes muscles, normalizes mood and decreases anxiety, improves attention, suppresses appetite (Leshner, 1996).