I've heard the same about Nicotine and while I've never been a Herion addict, I believe it to be true. I can't imagine anything worse than the nicotine withdrawal process and all the affects smoking has on us.
As for addictiveness, I think addiction is a behaviour. Our addiction to the nicotine substance (and other chemicals) create an addictive behaviour pattern that extends to the way we live our lives. This is what makes quitting so difficult for so many. It is a "life changing" event. Much like having a baby, getting married, or moving away.
Smoking was our comfort zone and in order to move away from it we have to let go of the addictive behaviours and move forward. During this entire process, we must learn new behavours to replace the old one (lighting up). If we do not learn to cope and deal with life without the crutch, we go back to smoking. Our addiction, our crutch, our comfort zone, our life the way it was instead of the way it can be. Once free from the addiction to nicotine, we begin to see the other addictive behaviours in our every day lives. Quitting can be a real eye opener in many, many ways.
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B]7/1/2005
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 915
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 18,300
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $3,202.50
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 84 [B]Hrs:[/B] 16 [B]Mins:[/B] 47 [B]Seconds:[/B] 15