One person dies every six seconds from a tobacco-related illness, leading to a shocking ten deaths per minute. Tobacco is one of the most widely consumed addictive products in the United States. Tobacco contains more than 4,000 chemicals; about 250 are dangerously harmful to humans. Smoking constitutes a major public health problem. All smokers face an increased risk of lung cancer, cardiovascular problems and many other disorders. Smoking should be banned due to the numerous health risks to the user, second-hand smoke-related illnesses, and excessive cost. Cigarette companies know that nicotine addiction helps sell their products. Nicotine is the main addictive ingredient in tobacco. Nicotine activates parts of the brain that control feelings and pleasure. It only takes a few minutes for the effects of nicotine to wear off, requiring the smoker to take another puff to continue feeling good. (Junior Scholastic, 2006) When you use tobacco products, nicotine is quickly absorbed into your bloodstream. Within 10 seconds of entering your body, nicotine reaches your brain. This causes the brain to give up adrenaline, creating a buzz of pleasure and energy. The buzz wears off quickly though and leaves you tired, a little depressed and wanting the buzz again. This will cause another cigarette to be lit. Since your body is able to develop a high tolerance to nicotine, you will need to smoke more and more cigarettes to benefit from the pleasant effects of nicotine and avoid withdrawal symptoms. This cycle will only continue to repeat itself, leading to addiction. Although for many, once you get to this point, it seems almost impossible to quit smoking, even if they want to. ("Added nicotine and tobacco...... middle of paper ......factsheet/Tobacco/ETSSmokers costs employers thousands more than non-smokers - WebMD. (nd). Retrieved from http:/ /www.webmd.com /smoking-cessation/news/20130604/smokers-cost-employers-thousands-more-than-nonsmokersNicotine and Tobacco Addiction | Be Tobacco Free.gov (nd). .gov/health-.effects/nicotine-health/index.htmlTobacco | NIDA for Teens (nd). -cigarettes.html http://www.cancer.org/healthy/toolsandcalculators/calculators/app/smoking-cost-calculator.aspx Tobacco Smoke | US EPA (nd). tobacco.htmlWhat is nicotine? - Medical News Today (nd)..