(S.D. Wells) Over 95 percent of people who quit nicotine without help return to the habit within 6 months. How could that be, when the true nicotine physical addiction wears off after just 3 to 4 days? It boils down to the fact that nicotine is a short-term stimulant, but a long-term depressant. Plus, much of the addiction is based on psychological stimulation that stems from physical habits and “rituals.” You see, dopamine is created in the brain, even when you just think about a cigarette, or vaping, or sex, or even your favorite food. So when smokers are trying to quit, there’s a chemical messenger war that’s going on in their brain that’s physical and mental, and the triggers can become unforgiving, if not followed by the drug. Let’s elaborate.