For me, the "addiction" is all behavioral -- anytime I *think* of smoking, I need a vape, which makes me forget all about smoking. I use 3mg nicotine, and vape about 5ml per day, totally tight-draw MtL at 10w or less (usually less), so I'm not getting a hell of a lot of nicotine at all. And recently while I was suffering a HORRIBLE headcold, I think I was vaping maybe 2ml per day, less than half my usual daily amount, and felt no deprivation at all; I was just so miserable that the thought of vaping didn't occur to me too much -- which NEVER happened when I smoked; I'd still smoke a pk or more daily, even with flu or a miserable headcold, because the Cigarette Bully gave me no choice, it badgered me constantly even when I was hacking up a lung every 5 minutes.
If I totally gave up nicotine, I might have a few headaches, maybe feel a bit edgy and/or moody for a week or so -- much the same as giving up caffeine when you're used to daily consumption, but those headaches and slight moodiness dont't even APPROACH what I went thru, just trying to go a single hour without a cigarette. That kind of slight withdrawal symptoms are characteristic of *dependence*, NOT addiction.
Addiction is robbing or stealing to support your habit -- and I used to steal money from my parents' and ex-husband's wallets, to buy cigarettes -- grabbing the cigarettes butts out of public ashtrays, to re-light for the puff or two that might still be available, and hang whatever germs total strangers may have left behind -- turning down jobs because you can't smoke there -- going hungry, so you can afford to buy cigarettes -- and many, many other toxic behaviors. I don't know anyone who would behave in such ways, to get their "coffee fix", nor to continue sticking nicotine patches on themselves, and I SERIOUSLY doubt anyone would behave thus in order to vape nicotine.
Andria