How Much Nicotine is in a Cigarette?

Cigarettes have been a topic of discussion for a long time. They are associated with a plethora of medical conditions and are highly addictive. Of all the chemical compounds contained in cigarettes, the most often discussed is nicotine. However, most of the debate overshadows some of the facts about nicotine and why it’s so effective in cigarettes.

The advent of vaping has added fuel to the fire as more smokers are turning to vaping to help them quit smoking. The only problem is, some of the vaping liquids contain nicotine which begs the question: is vaping is a better alternative to a traditional cigarette?

How Much Nicotine is in Cigarettes vs Vaping Products?

The concentration of nicotine in vaping products differs. There are different options ranging from 0mg to 12mg of nicotine per millilitre of vaping juice.

It’s almost impossible to calculate the amount of nicotine contained in a cigarette. A cigarette has about 1gm of tobacco which translates to about 8mg of nicotine on average.

Why not also read: PG Vs VG: What Are They?

Fairly put, traditional cigarettes only deliver a fraction of the nicotine to the smoker. However, the cigarettes contain other chemicals that hyperpower the delivery of nicotine producing a reinforcing effect on the brain that makes the user want to have more.

What’s the Different Between Smoking and Vaping Nicotine?

The difference between smoking and vaping nicotine is actually more significant than anticipated. When smoking, the user is not only smoking the nicotine but also about 4,000 other chemicals contained in the cigarette, which include tar, ammonia and carbon monoxide to mention just a few.

Most tobacco companies figured out a long time ago that it was possible to engineer a unique type of nicotine that was more desirable to the users by adding ammonia. This, together with the thousands of other products not only cause the addiction but also cause the other physical effects.

Vaping nicotine, on the other hand, is different. To begin with, you know exactly how much nicotine you're vaping and you have better control of the content you are taking in.

E-cigarettes heat the nicotine that is extracted from tobacco. To make it vapable, the nicotine is mixed with flavourings and PG (propylene glycol) and VG (vegetable glycerine). Once heated, these chemicals produce a water vapour that you inhale.

Compared to traditional cigarettes, the vaper consumes far less toxins. The best thing about vaping nicotine is that you get to stay away from all of the other harmful toxins that cause serious health complications.

Because vaping doesn’t pair nicotine with any of the compounds that reinforce effects on the brain, vaping nicotine isn’t as addictive as nicotine that is delivered through combustible tobacco.

Should I decide to vape nicotine, what's the right dosage for me?

One of the many benefits of vaping nicotine is the ability to have control of how much nicotine you vape. Whether you’re looking to wean yourself off or looking to keep your habits low, you can easily adjust accordingly.

Most smokers who turn to vaping will often experience headaches initially. This is a sign of the body telling you that there isn’t enough nicotine in the body. If you would like to adjust, you can pick up a vape liquid with a slightly higher concentration of nicotine or vape more frequently.

If you’re starting, it’s best to start with the lowest concentration only vaping after every few hours, this will help ease you into the vaping and save you the hard hits that come with high nicotine concentrations.

Why not also read: 10 Electronic Cigarette Problems and How to Fix Them

Once you’re better accustomed to the current concentration, you can upgrade the concentration or tone it down depending on your goals.

The Takeaway

Smokers are turning to vape as a safer way to keep up with their habits while reducing the health risks associated with smoking cigarettes. The countless chemicals contained in cigarettes are not only hazardous and life-threatening but also accelerate the effects of nicotine, making your body more dependent on the chemical.

Vaping is the exact opposite. Even though you’re still vaping nicotine, the accompanying elements are relatively safe and don’t cause any harm to the body. What’s more, the absorption of nicotine into the body is subtle without any aids to reinforce the effects and create over dependency.