the key to understanding addiction is not attributing it to the experience of withdrawal syndrome upon discontinuation - that's just the physiological response to the removal of a stimulus. That passes as the body re-adjusts. One can withdraw from something and NOT be addicted.

It's the cravings associated with the withdrawal. It's the cravings that make it so hard to kick. The cravings, too are physiological, but have their roots in positive reinforcement and are much more powerful and long lasting than the withdrawal symptoms.

I smoke freely and often. Why? It helps.

I'm not defending it, and certainly not promoting it, just saying it works for me.

No one starts drinking, or smoking or abusing drugs thinking "you know I want to get totally addicted to this and ruin my life".

No. It starts with a trial. If I had found smoking to be unpalatable, then clearly I would not have continued. Obviously, I get something out of it. I crave that reinforcement.

I've quit multiple times. Yeah, the withdrawal sucks, but it is replaced by something much more sinister and debilitating.