News Item 08-30-2006 Nicotine Up Sharply In Many Cigarettes Some Brands More Than 30% Stronger http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/30/AR2006083001418.html?nav=rss_email/components The amount of nicotine in most cigarettes rose an average of almost 10 percent between 1998 and 2004, with brands most popular with young people and minorities registering the biggest increases and highest nicotine content, according to a new study. Nicotine is highly addictive, and while no one has studied the effect of the increases on smokers, the higher levels theoretically could make new smokers more easily addicted as well as make it harder for established smokers to quit. </p>