General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: pilot study on nicotine residues in houses of electronic cigarette users, tobacco smokers, and non s [View all]meow2u3
(24,761 posts)I'd quit throwning around the term "addiction" when the real thing about nicotine is dependency. They're related, but not the same.
Addiction connotes overwhelming strong cravings for, and a compulsive need to, use a substance, despite the harm done to self or others; dependency is the phenomenon that the abrupt withdrawal of a substance causes illness or at least ill effects. So, you can be addicted to something without being dependent on it and vice versa. Someone who is addicted to something gets uncontrollable cravings (nicotine fits in smokers) and can't stop using even despite hurting self or others. Someone who's merely dependent can be weaned off the substance, but cannot stop abruptly without getting sick.
Vapers may be dependent on nicotine, as evidence by the ability to taper off the nicotine levels, but few if any are actually addicted, at least in the strict sense of the word.
Here's a link that describes the difference between dependence and addiction. They're talking about opioids, but it can easily apply to nicotine. http://www.naabt.org/addiction_physical-dependence.cfm