How do nicotine patches and gum differ from combustible tobacco products?

Nicotine patches and gum are forms of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) designed to help individuals quit smoking, and they differ significantly from combustible tobacco products like cigarettes in several ways:

• Composition: Unlike combustible tobacco, NRT products do not contain tar, carbon monoxide, or other toxic, carcinogenic compounds generated during the combustion of tobacco.12
• Delivery Speed and Dosage: Combustible tobacco delivers nicotine to the brain rapidly—often in less than 10 seconds—via inhalation into the lungs. In contrast, NRT products deliver lower, controlled doses of nicotine into the bloodstream more slowly, which helps reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings without the intense spikes associated with smoking.312
• Addiction Potential: Because they lack the rapid delivery mechanism and the sensory enhancements found in tobacco smoke, NRT products are much less addictive than cigarettes.23
• Safety: When used as directed, NRT products are considered safe and do not cause cardiovascular disease or lung toxicity, unlike the harmful effects linked to the toxins in tobacco smoke.2