cigarettes contain like a million chemicals. any number of which have properties not fully researched/understood.
they contain formaldehyde for example which has been shown to undergo changes when under extreme heat (fire...) that make it addictive. its not fully studies and I'm not fully read on the subject but you may not just be going through a nic fit as you obviously get nic (I also get plenty and lust for an analog at times) but we may be itching for a dose of all kinds of goodies like formaldehyde that we didn't even know we are hooked too.
Cigs are nasty little things- stick to the plan milk this and try to quit eventually and if you fail take comfort in the fact that stand alone nicotine will just keep you a junkie- not a dying one.
Good point hacking.... now I will just visualize going to my local mortuary and asking for a quick fix... That should cure me