Knowledge about cigarettes and their harmful nature continues to expand. Studies and experiments are constantly being carried out to understand what cigarettes really are. Media and entertainment are more influenced than ever by the promotion of smoking, even though we know more than ever how harmful they are. We already know that smoking cigarettes is harmful to our health, but people continue to smoke them. We are increasingly aware of the terrible chemicals in cigarettes that should not be anywhere near our bodies. And yet, cigarettes remain legal. There are four requirements established by the Surgeon General that define addiction: 1) despite negative effects, repeated use occurs because of the addiction, 2) there is a psychoactive substance that reinforces the behavior involved in addiction, 3) the tolerance to the addictive substance is developed, 4) withdrawal and relapse are evidence of physical dependence on an addictive substance (Critical insights into the nature of nicotine addiction: A summary of key learnings to date, 2006).The Journal of Family Practice published an article stating that seventy percent of smokers say they want to quit, but only five percent of those who attempt to quit succeed without medical assistance (Critical insights into the nature of nicotine addiction: A summary of key learnings to date, 2006). Additionally, those who give up usually only succeed after six to nine failed attempts. The article “Critical Insights Into The Nature of Nicotine Addiction: A Summary of Key Learnings to Date” presents the idea that even when aware of the negative health effects, people will generally continue to smoke (2006). Plus people will continue to smoke middle of paper......accoism. American Journal of Public Health, 92(6), 932-934. Retrieved from http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.2105/AJPH.92.6.932 Lin, PN, Hanos Zimmerman, M., Bover Manderski, MT, Schmeizer, AC, & Steinberg, MB (2011). Evaluating graphic cigarette warning images on cravings. Journal of Smoking Cessation, 6(2), 85-88. Retrieved from http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=8494408Protano, C. and Vitali, M. (2011). The new danger of second-hand smoke: why second-hand smoke doesn't stop at second-hand smoke. Environmental Health Perspectives, 119(10). Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3230455/Smethurst, W., Wales, J., & Arcelus, J. (2010). Make magic thinner? European Journal of Eating Disorders, 18(6), 431-433. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/erv.1059/full