Nicotine is one of the major psychoactive constituents of tobacco. It is found in cigarettes, chewing tobacco, rolling tobacco, as well as nicotine patches, nicotine gum, and now nicotine inhalers.

Smoked Nicotine Dosages Threshold 200 - 300 ug Light 400 - 600 ug Common 0.6 - 1 mg Strong 1 - 2 mg Heavy 3 - 4 mg

Onset : 5 - 30 seconds Duration : 6 - 14 hours Normal After Effects : up to 24 hours

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Oral Nicotine Dosages Light .5 - 1 mg Common 1 - 3 mg Strong 3 - 6 mg

Onset : 2 - 10 minutes Duration : 6 - 14 hours Normal After Effects : up to 24 hours

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.13 to 2.0 mg of nicotine per cigarette.
See The Nicotine and Tar content of 25 cigarette brands for a list of individual nicotine contents.

3.4 - 4.0 mg extractable nicotine per stick - from Physicians Desk Reference (now available in 2 mg units as well).

1. Perkins K, Fonte C, Sanders M, et al. "Threshold doses for nicotine discrimination in smokers and non-smokers". Psychopharmacology. May 2001; 155(2):163-70.
   
   
2. Biomonitoring of the exposure to tobacco products