Tobacco Use Disorder

Tobacco use disorder is a substance use disorder characterized by a problematic pattern of tobacco use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, including an inability to cut down despite a desire to do so, cravings, continued use despite knowledge of harm, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, anxiety and difficulty concentrating when use is stopped. Nicotine, the primary psychoactive and addictive component of tobacco, was identified and named in the early nineteenth century, and tobacco dependence is now recognized as one of the most common and most lethal substance use disorders worldwide.