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Nicotine is a naturally occurring chemical in the tobacco plant, and is one of the reasons why people smoke cigarettes. 

Nicotine is addictive and is not risk free. However, it’s not the primary cause of smoking-related diseases. 

Find out more about the role of nicotine, the problem of burning, the health effects of smoking, and our views on underage tobacco and nicotine use.

It is possible to enjoy nicotine without smoking. Philip Morris International (PMI) offers a portfolio of smoke-free alternatives that deliver nicotine. These include heat-not-burn products, where the nicotine is naturally present in the tobacco. PMI also markets e-vapor products (aka vapes or e-cigarettes) and oral smokeless products (such as nicotine pouches and snus), where the nicotine is extracted from the tobacco. Find out about Philip Morris International’s better alternatives to smoking.


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Our Science

The facts about nicotine

3 min read

Nicotine is addictive and not risk-free but is not the primary cause of smoking-related disease.

Our Science

The problem with burning tobacco

3 min read

What makes burning tobacco so harmful and how can this harm be reduced with smoke-free alternatives.

Our Science

PMI’s approach to tobacco harm reduction

The best choice for any smoker is to quit products containing nicotine and tobacco altogether. Smoke-free products are for adult smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke.