‘Highly addictive substance…’ ‘A naturally occurring toxic chemical…’ ‘A stimulant drug…’ This and much more have been said about nicotine, writes Asanda Gcoyi. But what is it really? And why is it such a hot topic for everyone, from politicians to clean-living gurus? If nicotine is a naturally occurring substance, is classifying it as “highly addictive” simply a marketing ploy? To understand the buzz – and why nicotine is seen as the enemy for many in the public health sector – it’s important to understand how we got here. [...] Nicotine is an alkaloid, a naturally occurring organic compound, produced by the nightshade family of tobacco plants.[...]