cigarettes

Cigarettes are small cylindrical bundles of finely cut tobacco wrapped in paper, designed to be lit at one end and smoked. Most cigarettes include a filter at the mouth end and may contain additives that affect flavor, burn rate, or aroma. When lit, the tobacco burns to produce smoke that is drawn through the cigarette and inhaled into the lungs or mouth. Nicotine is the primary psychoactive component, providing rapid delivery that contributes to dependence.

Historically, tobacco use in wrapped forms predates the modern cigarette, but mass production and widespread popularity emerged in the 19th and 20th centuries. Advances in filtering, packaging, and advertising helped establish global demand, while public health concerns grew. From the late 20th century onward, many countries introduced warning labels, advertising restrictions, age limits, and higher taxes to reduce initiation and encourage cessation, with additional measures such as smoke-free public spaces and workplace bans.

Health effects associated with cigarette smoking are substantial. Smoking is a leading cause of cancer, heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and complications during pregnancy. Secondhand smoke also harms non-smokers. Nicotine dependence makes quitting difficult, though cessation supports—such as pharmacotherapy, counseling, and quitlines—can improve success rates. Regulatory approaches focus on warnings, packaging standards, advertising bans, tax policy, and consumption restrictions, while some regions regulate or ban alternative products like e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco to reduce overall harm.