What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the term native tobacco? Perhaps it is a more natural alternative to commercial cigarettes. Or maybe a more traditional one.

Indigenous people typically cultivate native tobacco. They utilize it to meet cultural, ritual, and spiritual purposes. But what of its recreational use? Is it addictive like regular cigarettes are? Let’s take a closer look.

Tobacco addiction in a nutshell

Tobacco could either be native or commercial. Regardless of the type, the primary addictive is nicotine. This is a naturally occurring chemical in tobacco plant leaves.

So what happens when you use tobacco? A chemical called nicotine is rapidly transmitted to your brain. It causes the release of a chemical known as dopamine. This is the same chemical that makes you feel relaxed or happy.

The craving to feel this way begins in your brain. In the process, it becomes accustomed, and to get the same feeling, you require a larger dose of nicotine. That is what makes one addicted to the behavior, a craving-using and withdrawal cycle that is very difficult to quit.

Although native smokes are referred to as being pure or natural, they still have nicotine. It means that addiction is quite a possibility, in case it is used regularly or inhaled.

The distinction between recreational and traditional use

It is necessary to realize that the use of tobacco in old traditional Indigenous cultures is quite different from recreational smoking. Tobacco is a sacred medicine in most of the First Nations. It is presented to the Creator during rituals or in prayer. Tobacco used in such settings is not intended to be smoked or inhaled into the lungs or intended to be smoked as a habit.

Native tobacco used in such a manner is not linked with addiction. It is not that you are smoking it daily or trying to have a chemical experience, but it is a spiritual exchange.

The recreational use, however, is different. When you habitually smoke native cigarettes, whether due to stress relief, socializing, or habit, you are putting yourself in the same addictive loop that nicotine puts you in. Its native status does not render it immune to the natural reaction of the body to nicotine.

Is native tobacco healthier than commercial one?

It is assumed that the native tobacco is healthier. This is because it is grown naturally. That means it has no additives or chemical preservatives. That might be the case with fewer added ingredients. However, the danger to health posed by nicotine and smoke is equally the same.

Think about what happens every time you breathe in smoke. You fill your lungs with tar and carbon monoxide. Not to mention, thousands of other dangerous substances.

They can always cause heart disease and respiratory issues. Cancer is the most dangerous of them all. Missing additives ensure that the smoke is a bit less harsh. However, it will not eliminate the core dangers of smoking.

The final take

Therefore, is native tobacco addictive? Yes, it can when it is used on a daily basis, to achieve a nicotine effect and not a ceremony or a purpose.